Science and Industry: New Prospects for Sulfur Processing in Kazakhstan

The team of Kozybayev University, as part of the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by Minister Sayasat Nurbek, took part in a meeting with the Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas, Askhat Khassenov.

Today, the country’s largest national oil and gas company is systematically building cooperation with the scientific community: an R&D Roadmap has been developed, covering around 80 research areas, including geology, field development, and petrochemistry. Cooperation has already been established with 35 leading universities.

For us, the discussion at such a high level of the joint project with scientists from the University of Arizona on the development of sulfur-containing polymers was particularly significant.

“Kazakhstan possesses substantial sulfur reserves, and today we are shaping an approach in which this resource becomes the foundation for high value-added products. Partnership with University of Arizona and Kozybayev University provides access to cutting-edge scientific developments and enables the creation of a comprehensive ecosystem — from research and personnel training to pilot implementation and large-scale deployment of solutions. The project has a wide range of applications, from new materials and fertilizers to metal extraction technologies, while simultaneously addressing environmental challenges related to sulfur processing,” Minister Sayasat Nurbek noted following the meeting on his official page.

The project is planned to be implemented in three areas: production of high-tech plastics from sulfur, development of innovative fertilizers, and the use of sulfur in extracting residual precious metals from ore.

An international research team led by world-renowned scientist Jeffrey Pyun has developed an advanced inverse vulcanization technology that enables molten sulfur to be converted into polymers and high-value products such as infrared lenses, lithium–sulfur battery components, anti-corrosion coatings, and slow-release fertilizers. The technology is protected by 11 patents, supported by more than 50 scientific publications, and has significant commercial potential.

This project is especially relevant for our country, as Kazakhstan currently ranks 7th in the world in elemental sulfur production, producing about 4.3 million tons annually. At the same time, the excessive accumulation of sulfur creates environmental risks, particularly given the growing production at oil and gas fields. In this context, the transition from raw material exports to deep processing and the production of innovative sulfur-containing materials with high added value is becoming increasingly important.