Sulphur
Products

Granular sulphur is produced by cooling and solidifying, in a controlled water-cooled granulation line, the molten sulphur recovered from acid gases at refineries and natural gas processing plants. The resulting spherical particles have a hard shell and low porosity, which minimises breakage and dusting losses during transport and handling.

Its free-flowing structure allows uninterrupted operation in silo discharge, conveyor transport and automatic dosing systems. Low moisture content prevents caking during storage, while the bright yellow, uniform appearance makes it easy for the buyer to verify acceptance criteria visually. The mechanical strength of the granular form is a decisive advantage on long-haul sea shipments and routes involving multiple transhipments.

Principal applications include sulphur-based and compound fertiliser production, soil pH adjustment, sulphuric acid plants, leaching processes in mining, and the chemical industry. Applied to soil in agricultural use, it oxidises gradually, meeting the plant’s sulphur requirement while improving the availability of phosphorus and micronutrients.

Portus EXİM sources granular sulphur from refinery-origin supply and arranges sampling, analysis and tonnage determination through an independent inspection company before loading. Particle size distribution, moisture content and packaging type are planned around the buyer’s feed system.

Prilled sulphur is produced by releasing molten sulphur onto a cooling belt in even droplets that then solidify. The resulting hemispherical particles have a more porous internal structure than the granular form, which allows them to disperse faster in water and in the melt.

This rapid dispersion makes the prilled form particularly advantageous in sulphuric acid production lines and at plants feeding a melting kettle. Because the particle size falls within a narrow range, deviation in gravimetric and volumetric dosing systems is reduced and the stability of the process input improves.

Low moisture and low acidity limit the risk of corrosion and caking in long-term storage. Its uniform appearance and low dusting make it the preferred choice for bagged sales and for packaging that reaches the end user.

Portus EXİM plans prilled sulphur in the particle size range suited to the buyer’s feed equipment, and agrees big bag, bagged or bulk shipment options according to the destination port and storage conditions.

Powder sulphur is obtained by grinding and screening granular or lump sulphur. As particle size decreases, surface area per unit mass increases, giving a decisive advantage in applications where reaction rate and uniform dispersion matter.

In rubber vulcanisation, how finely the sulphur is ground directly affects the quality of its reaction with the rubber, which is why tyre production consumes high-fineness powder sulphur. In agricultural spraying, the powder form creates a thin, continuous film on the leaf surface, giving protective action against fungal diseases.

Applications include the rubber and tyre industry, agricultural spraying and soil amendment, matches and pyrotechnics, paint and pigment production, and various chemical synthesis processes. Particle size distribution (200 mesh, 325 mesh, etc.) is set according to project requirements.

Because the powder form tends to generate dust, closed-system handling, earthing and appropriate personal protective equipment are recommended. Shipment is usually planned in palletised bags or big bags; on request, the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and certificate of analysis are shared before loading.

Lump sulphur is the irregularly grained form obtained by passing sulphur — solidified in pits or blocks — through crushers. Because it involves no forming step (granulation or prilling), its unit cost is lower than that of the other forms.

This cost advantage is decisive for large-scale plants that melt sulphur and feed it directly into the process. In sulphuric acid production and metallurgical processes, what matters is chemical purity and moisture rather than particle shape, so the lump form is preferred.

Particle size is distributed across a wide range; a fraction suited to the buyer’s crusher and feed system can be requested. The proportion of fines is defined together with tolerance limits at the contract stage.

In sea transport, lump and coarse-grained sulphur falls under IMSBC Code Group B and IMDG Class 4.1 (UN 1350). For shipments in this category, Portus EXİM carries out the required declaration, segregation and pre-loading checks together with the shipowner and agent.