On March 28, the 300,000-ton sulfur-based sulfuric acid project of Xinjiang Yingtai Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yingtai Energy) was officially commissioned, effectively bridging the gap in sulfuric acid production capacity in the local market and southern Xinjiang and providing a stable supply of raw materials for key industries such as downstream fertilizer manufacturing, lithium-ion batteries, and new materials.

Xinjiang Yingtai Energy’s 300,000-ton sulfur-based sulfuric acid project has officially begun operations. Photo by reporter Chen Fei.

According to available information, the project has a total investment of RMB 150 million and features core products including 250,000 tonnes per year of 98% or 93% industrial-grade sulfuric acid and 50,000 tonnes per year of 105% fuming sulfuric acid, along with a complementary output of 360,000 tonnes per year of medium- and high-pressure clean steam. In terms of production technology, the project employs the globally mainstream “two conversion–two absorption” sulfur-based sulfuric acid process, using industrial-grade sulfur as feedstock and carrying out production through three core steps: sulfur combustion, catalytic oxidation, and concentrated sulfuric acid absorption. Compared with conventional processes such as roasting pyrite ore and producing sulfuric acid from flue gases generated during nonferrous metal smelting, this technology offers significant advantages in environmental protection, resource efficiency, and operational effectiveness. It not only substantially reduces pollutant emissions but also yields finished sulfuric acid of higher purity with extremely low impurity levels, meeting premium-grade standards and providing high-quality, reliable raw material supply for downstream industries such as high-end chemicals, fine chemicals, and new energy storage materials.

Workers are opening the sulfuric acid transport valve. Photo by reporter Chen Fei.

“Following meticulous commissioning in the pre-commissioning phase, the entire sulfur-based sulfuric acid production unit is now operating smoothly and efficiently, with all process performance indicators reaching industry-leading levels. The primary product—industrial-grade sulfuric acid—has achieved stable mass production and meets premium-grade quality standards,” said Mian Zuoxiang, Deputy General Manager of Yingtai Energy. He added that, once the project is fully operational, annual output value is expected to exceed RMB 300 million. In addition to directly ensuring a reliable supply of sulfuric acid, the project will also stimulate the coordinated development of supporting industries such as hazardous chemical warehousing and trading, as well as bulk commodity logistics, thereby further optimizing the local upstream–downstream industrial chain and contributing to the regional industrial structure’s optimization and upgrading.

Workers are operating steam equipment. Photo by reporter Chen Fei.

Sulfuric acid is a core feedstock in the basic chemical industry, and the stability of its supply is critical to industrial development. With the rapid growth of fine chemicals, new energy, and new materials industries in southern Xinjiang, the local supply-demand gap for sulfuric acid has become increasingly pronounced. The 300,000-ton sulfur-based sulfuric acid project undertaken by Yingtai Energy will effectively strengthen sulfuric acid supply capacity in southern Xinjiang, serve as a “stabilizer” for the industrial chain, promote agglomeration and cluster development, and inject strong new momentum into the region’s high-quality economic development. (Reporter: Chen Fei)