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Interpretation of the new 2025 regulations on “Specifications for the Treatment and Disposal of Industrial Waste Sulfuric Acid” (Qian Jun, Changzhou Tait Environmental Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu 213144). Author biography: Qian Jun is mainly engaged in the research, development, application, and promotion of processes for the resource utilization and disposal of hazardous solid wastes such as waste acid. One of the main drafters of this standard. Contact information for the author: cztthb@vip.163.com Abstract: The newly revised “Specifications for the Treatment and Disposal of Industrial Waste Sulfuric Acid”, effective as of February 1, 2026, specifies seven technical approaches, including high-temperature pyrolysis and vacuum concentration. It also introduces requirements for comprehensive process control. Enterprises must proactively evaluate relevant technologies and equipment, improve their management systems, and strike a balance between resource utilization and compliance with regulations. On August 5, 2025, the **State Administration for Market Regulation** and the **Standardization Administration Committee** jointly issued the new version of standard GB/T 36380-2025 \"Specifications for the Treatment and Disposal of Industrial Sulfuric Acid\". This standard will come into effect on February 1, 2026, replacing the previous version from 2018. The release of this new standard marks a new phase in the treatment and disposal of industrial sulfuric acid waste in our country, providing new guidelines for environmental protection requirements and technical approaches for relevant enterprises. As professionals in the environmental protection industry, we need to stay informed about new regulations and adjust our project design approaches accordingly. I. Key changes in the new regulations: more comprehensive, scientific, and stringent. Compared with the 2018 version, the new standards have undergone significant adjustments and updates in various aspects. Apart from structural optimization and editorial changes, the technical aspects of the new standard are particularly noteworthy: the definitions of terms are clearer. The new standard introduces a \"Terms and Definitions\" section for the first time, clarifying key concepts such as \"waste sulfuric acid\", \"treatment\", \"utilization\", and \"disposal\". Under this section, \"waste sulfuric acid\" is defined as \"sulfuric acid or sulfuric acid solutions that have lost or reduced their original utility value after being used\", thereby avoiding ambiguous interpretations of these concepts in practice. Technological methods are iteratively upgraded. The new standard eliminates the low-temperature, medium-temperature, and high-temperature regeneration methods from the old standard, and introduces technical approaches such as high-temperature pyrolysis, multi-stage negative-pressure concentration and purification (crystallization), and carbonization-reduction of waste sulfuric acid, which are better suited to the current industry needs. At the same time, pre-treatment methods for industrial waste sulfuric acid were added, covering 5 categories such as ion exchange resin method, extraction method, and precipitation method, which can be selected flexibly according to the characteristics of the impurities in the waste sulfuric acid. The control requirements are more comprehensive. The new standard adds a \"Requirements\" section, establishing a comprehensive control system that covers everything from infrastructure construction, collection, transportation, arrival at the facility, and storage to the qualifications of personnel. For example, it is stipulated that facilities for storing waste sulfuric acid must be equipped with acid-resistant storage tanks, dikes, emergency ponds, and waste gas treatment equipment, with the storage period generally not exceeding 1 year ； Operators must undergo training and pass the assessment before taking up their duties, while senior technical personnel should have at least 3 years of relevant experience or hold a professional title at the intermediate level or above. II. Impact on the design of future acid waste treatment projects 1. The selection of technical approaches needs to be re-evaluated: The adjustments to treatment and disposal technologies outlined in the new standards mean that the compliance and advancement of the technical approaches used in future project designs must be reassessed. The high-temperature pyrolysis method is suitable for waste sulfuric acid containing high concentrations of organic substances and with a sulfuric acid mass fraction of not less than 60%; through high-temperature pyrolysis at 1100°C–1350°C, sulfur dioxide is converted, ultimately producing concentrated sulfuric acid that meets the GB/T 534 standards. The multi-stage negative-pressure concentration and purification method can be used to treat waste sulfuric acid from industries such as organic synthesis, electronics, and titanium dioxide production. After multi-stage negative-pressure evaporation and concentration, the resulting sulfuric acid product must meet the standards of GB/T 534 or the specific standards for recycled sulfuric acid (GB/T 40124). 2. Comprehensive process control has become a mandatory requirement: The new standards set clear requirements for the entire chain of handling and disposal of industrial waste sulfuric acid. Companies need to pay close attention to the following aspects in project design: Transportation and transfer: Transport companies must have the necessary qualifications for transporting hazardous goods, and vehicles must be equipped with special markings; the system of transfer permits for hazardous waste must be strictly followed during the transfer process ； Special acid-resistant transport vehicles must be used during collection to prevent leaks and unauthorized dumping. Receipt and storage: Waste sulfuric acid treatment and disposal enterprises need to establish standards for the receipt of such waste and pre-acceptance procedures; laboratories must have the appropriate testing capabilities ； Storage facilities must comply with GB 18597 (Standards for Pollution Control of Hazardous Waste Storage). Waste sulfuric acid containing reactive substances must be stored separately; inorganic acids shall not be stored together with alkaline substances or organic acids. Storage period: The new regulations specify that the storage period should, in principle, not exceed 1 year; this requires careful consideration of the scale of storage facilities during project design. 3. The direction for resource utilization is clearer: The new standards specify the directions and requirements for producing products through resource utilization, taking into account the characteristics of waste sulfuric acid generated in different industries. For waste sulfuric acid from applications such as steel pickling and aluminum cleaning, products such as polyferric sulfate, aluminum sulfate, and magnesium sulfate can be manufactured. However, the standards also stipulate that when polyferric sulfate is produced from titanium dioxide waste sulfuric acid using the sulfuric acid method, the resulting product must meet the GB/T 14591 standard and shall not be used for drinking water purification. This clear guidance provides a basis for selecting the product direction in project design, while also establishing necessary safety boundaries. 4. Environmental protection requirements have been significantly raised: The new standards impose higher demands on environmental protection, and project design must take the following into full consideration: Exhaust gas emissions must comply with GB 16297 (Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants) and GB 18484 (Pollution Control Standards for the Incineration of Hazardous Waste). If the treated wastewater is to be reused, it must meet the production requirements; if discharged externally, it must comply with GB 8978 (Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standards). Solid waste must be disposed of in accordance with regulatory requirements. III. Recommendations for Relevant Enterprises To meet the requirements of the new standards, relevant enterprises can prepare in the following three areas: Technical adaptation: Evaluate whether existing technical equipment meets the requirements by comparing them with the processing methods recommended in the new national standards. In particular, for enterprises dealing with the treatment of high-concentration organic waste sulfuric acid, it is possible to investigate the process parameters of high-temperature pyrolysis and the requirements for equipment modification. System improvement: Establish a data information management system for the collection and treatment of spent sulfuric acid to ensure integration with national or local solid waste management system data ； Improve management systems for storage, transportation, and emergency response, and add procedures for staff training and qualification verification. Standard study*: Thoroughly examine the full text of national standards as well as the related reference documents (such as GB 18597, GB/T 40124, etc.) to clarify the product control parameters and environmental protection requirements, thereby avoiding compliance risks resulting from misunderstandings of the standards. IV. Summary: Moving toward a new phase of standardization, resource utilization, and harm reduction. The issuance and implementation of GB/T 36380-2025 \"Specifications for the Treatment and Disposal of Industrial Sulfuric Acid\" not only meets the demands of industrial green transformation regarding the resource utilization of waste acid, but also establishes compliance standards for the industry. For environmental engineering companies, as well as enterprises in the chemical, metallurgical, and electronics industries that produce sulfuric acid waste, as well as specialized treatment and disposal agencies, keeping abreast of the key requirements of the new national standards is not only a necessary measure to avoid environmental risks but also an important opportunity to improve the efficiency of resource utilization. In the design of future waste acid treatment projects, greater attention must be paid to the compliance of technical approaches, the strictness of full-process management, and the safety of recycled products, in order to truly achieve a balance among environmental, social, and economic benefits. V. Summary Table of Key Points: Impact of Major Changes in Various Aspects on Project Design; Technical methods – the low-temperature/medium-temperature/high-temperature regeneration methods have been removed ； The introduction of new methods such as high-temperature pyrolysis, multi-stage negative-pressure concentration and purification, and carbonization-reduction requires a reevaluation and selection of appropriate technical approaches to ensure compliance and advancement. New control requirements have been established for the entire process, including transportation, storage, and handling upon arrival at the facility; proper storage facilities must be built, pre-acceptance procedures must be put in place, and transportation management must be strengthened. Regarding resource utilization, it is clear that products such as polyferric sulfate, aluminum sulfate, and magnesium sulfate can be produced, which provides a basis for choosing suitable product directions, while also setting safety limits. In terms of environmental protection, there are stricter requirements for the emission and treatment of exhaust gases, wastewater, and solid waste; pollutant treatment facilities must be enhanced to ensure that emissions meet regulatory standards. To meet compliance requirements, it is necessary to establish a data management system, improve existing regulations, and invest resources in technical adaptation, regulatory improvements, and staff training. It is hoped that this article will help relevant enterprises and environmental protection professionals better understand the requirements of these new standards, allowing them to plan ahead in the design of future acid waste treatment projects and keep up with the new trends in environmental protection.