Bromine is an important halogen element, primarily found in seawater, salt lakes, and underground brine in the form of bromides. The global distribution of bromine resources is uneven, mainly concentrated in the following regions:
Seawater: The average concentration of bromine in seawater is approximately 65 ppm, making it the largest potential resource, though extraction costs are relatively high.
2. Salt lakes and underground brines:
- Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan): The most concentrated bromine resource region in the world, with bromine concentrations reaching 6,000–12,000 ppm, accounting for over 60% of global production.
- **Arkansas, USA**: Abundant bromine salt deposits, with major companies including Lanxess and Albemarle.
- China: The underground brine in areas such as Laizhou Bay in Shandong and Sichuan has relatively high bromine content (200–500 ppm), but its grade is lower than that of the Dead Sea.
Major producing countries:
Israel (ICL Group) and Jordan: Dominating the Global Supply of Dead Sea Resources.
- United States: Arkansas is the primary production region.
- China: Companies such as Shandong Haihua and Weifang Yaxing extract bromine from brine.
- Others: Japan, Germany, and others extract bromine from seawater or recycle it.
Application fields of bromine
Bromine and its compounds are widely used in the following industries:
Flame retardants (most widely used application area, accounting for approximately 50% of global consumption)
- Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): Used in electronic devices, building materials, automotive components, etc., such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE).
- Controversy: Certain brominated flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are restricted due to their environmental persistence, driving the development of halogen-free alternatives.
2. Petroleum and Chemical Industry
- Drilling fluid: Calcium/zinc bromide solution used as completion fluid for high-temperature and high-pressure oil wells.
- Brominated intermediates: Key raw materials in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and pesticides (e.g., bromobenzene, bromoacetic acid).
3. Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Bromine-based disinfectants: bactericides for swimming pools and cooling towers (e.g., sodium bromate).
Mercury emission control: Brominated activated carbon is used to adsorb mercury in coal-fired power plants.
4. Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture
- Drug Synthesis: Antibiotics, sedatives (such as potassium bromide).
- Pesticides: Methyl bromide (gradually phased out), cypermethrin, etc.
5. Other Fields
- Photography: Silver bromide is used in traditional film.
- Energy Storage: Zinc-Bromine Flow Battery (Emerging Application).
Market Trends and Challenges
- Source Competition: The decline in the Dead Sea's water level may impact long-term supply.
- Environmental regulations: The EU REACH and U.S. EPA restrictions on certain brominated compounds are driving the development of alternatives.
- China's Capacity Expansion: Bromine Recovery Technology Advancement in the Laizhou Bay Region Reduces Dependence on Imports.
As a strategic resource, bromine's high-value-added applications (such as in new energy batteries) may become future growth drivers, but environmental pressures will continue to impact the industry landscape.
