How is sulfur recovered from petroleum purification used in fertilizer manufacturing?

Sulfur recovered during petroleum purification is a vital raw material for the chemical industry. When sulfur is removed from sour petroleum or refinery gases, it is typically separated as hydrogen sulfide and converted into elemental sulfur using the Claus process.1

Once recovered, approximately six-sevenths of all produced sulfur is converted into sulfuric acid. This acid serves as a fundamental building block in the manufacture of fertilizers, accounting for nearly half of the world's total sulfuric acid production. Specifically, the acid is used to produce phosphates (such as superphosphate) and ammonium sulfate. By transforming recovered sulfur into these essential agricultural products, the industry effectively repurposes a byproduct of fuel refining to support global food production.234