Sulphur
Specification & Packing
Purity, moisture, ash and acidity limits — and how sulphur is bagged, bulked and shipped without degrading.
Sulphur is traded on a small number of critical parameters. Purity determines the yield in an acid plant; moisture, ash and acidity determine whether the material will corrode the equipment that handles it. Every Addam lot is certified against all four.
Standard bright grade specification
The internationally traded bright grade is 99.9 per cent minimum purity with moisture at 0.5 per cent maximum, ash at 0.05 per cent maximum and acidity below 0.01 per cent as sulphuric acid. Colour is bright yellow, with no dark discolouration from organic carryover.
Carbon content matters to acid producers in particular, since organic carbon carried into a sulphur burner produces soot that fouls the catalyst bed. We certify carbon separately where the buyer's process requires it.
Why each parameter matters
- Purity — sets acid plant yield and the volume of inert material handled
- Moisture — combines with sulphur dust to form acid, corroding steel handling equipment
- Ash — inorganic residue that accumulates in the process and must be purged
- Acidity — direct corrosion risk to conveyors, holds, tanks and pipework
- Carbon — fouls acid plant catalyst and darkens the product
- Particle size — governs dust generation and flow behaviour in handling
Packing options
- 25 kg and 50 kg polypropylene bags with an inner liner, for retail and small-lot supply
- 1,000 kg and 1,250 kg jumbo bags, the standard for containerised export
- Bulk in container with liner, typically 25 to 27 MT per 20-foot unit
- Bulk vessel shipment, handysize through panamax parcels
- Heated ISO tanks and road tankers for molten supply
Storage and transport discipline
Keep solid sulphur dry. Wet sulphur generates acid, and acid attacks carbon steel in ship holds, conveyors and storage buildings — most sulphur corrosion claims trace back to water ingress rather than the product itself.
Control dust at every transfer point, since sulphur dust is combustible and can form an explosive atmosphere in an enclosed space. Ground and bond handling equipment against static discharge, keep ignition sources away, and use spark-resistant tooling. Store away from oxidising agents and strong bases.
Typical specification
| Purity (dry basis) | 99.9% minimum |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 0.5% maximum |
| Ash content | 0.05% maximum |
| Acidity (as H₂SO₄) | 0.01% maximum |
| Organic carbon | 0.05% maximum |
| Arsenic / selenium / tellurium | 1 ppm maximum each |
| Colour | Bright yellow |
| Bulk density | 1.10 – 1.25 t/m³ |
Values are indicative and given for guidance. Contract specification is agreed in writing and certified per batch on the certificate of analysis issued with each shipment.
