【Frontiers of HaiChuan Chemical Technology】Overcoming Critical Challenges: Successful Extraction Test of Hundreds of Millions of Tons of Deep-Sea Potash Salts in Xuanhan, Sichuan

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Overcoming the key challenges: Successful extraction trials of billion-ton-scale deep marine potash in Xuanhan, Sichuan. Recently, the auxiliary equipment used in the experiments aimed at extracting deep marine potash resources in Xuanhan County, Dazhou, Sichuan, was successfully tested, enabling the production of high-purity potassium chloride. This achievement marks China’s success in overcoming the core technical barriers in the field of deep marine potash development, laying a technical foundation for the large-scale exploitation of billion-ton-scale marine potash resources and filling the technical gaps in this area in China. At Sichuan Baren Hengchuang Potash Salt Co., Ltd. in the Puguang Economic Development Zone of Xuanhan County, highly pure potash salts that have just been extracted are neatly stacked. Meanwhile, the projects aimed at developing new potassium fertilizer production methods are in full swing, with the roar of machinery reflecting the strong drive for innovation and breakthroughs… The long-standing ‘bottleneck’ problems that have plagued the industry have finally been solved; the quality and purity of the potash salt we produce now meet high standards! ”Jia Xiaohua, the company’s chief engineer, was unable to hide his excitement. He led a team of over 20 technical experts in relentless efforts day and night, undergoing countless experiments until they finally achieved a technological breakthrough. Potassium salt resources are important mineral resources for ensuring **food security, and are primarily used in the production of potassium fertilizers. As one of the three essential elements for crop growth, potassium fertilizer is often referred to as the \"food of foods\"; it is a strategic resource indispensable for social stability and economic development in our country. Previously, domestic potassium salt development had mainly focused on continental salt lakes in Qinghai and Xinjiang. The first marine lithium- and potassium-rich resource deposit discovered in the Xuanhan-Puguang area is classified as a \"new type of mixed halite potassium salt deposit\"; the area of this rich deposit is 179 square kilometers. The estimated resource volume exceeds 710 million tons, while the recoverable reserves are estimated at around 245 million tons, which represents 97% of the reserves in Qinghai (254 million tons) and 8.5 times those in Xinjiang (29 million tons). However, deep-sea potash deposits are located at great depths and under complex conditions, making it difficult for conventional mining techniques to enable the efficient extraction and utilization of these resources; as a result, they were once considered \"useless mines\" that could not be exploited. According to Jia Xiaohua, this project utilizes a multi-stage extraction process using potassium-rich multi-component brines. Starting from the potassium-rich brines derived from the underground deposits in Xuanhan, calcium and magnesium are extracted first, followed by the purification of the brine; sodium chloride is then produced through thermal pressure evaporation. At the same time, a high-temperature potassium-rich mother liquor is obtained, and by cooling this liquid, potassium chloride is produced. The successful development of the marine potash resources in Xuanhan represents a key breakthrough in making Xuanhan County the first pilot area in China for the exploitation of deep-sea marine potash resources. It not only fills the technical gap in this field in China but also promotes a shift in potash development from reliance on continental sources to a balanced approach that takes both continental and marine sources into account. It is also an important milestone in the establishment of a secure supply system for potash resources in China. “Next, in line with the strategic plans outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, we will make every effort to advance the efforts related to the development and utilization of deep-sea potash resources. Our goal is to have the potash fertilizer production lines fully operational by the second quarter of 2026, and to enable the transition from exploration to exploitation for the 6 potash exploration projects and potassium-rich brine projects for which exploration rights have already been obtained. At the same time, significant efforts are being made to implement industrial development initiatives, with a focus on advancing the production of new types of potassium fertilizers. A number of projects for the utilization of potassium fertilizers and associated resources have been established, creating **new bases for the production of such fertilizers. This helps transform Xuanhan from a region that merely produces resources into one where industries can thrive, thereby contributing to ensuring **food security and resource security. ” Lu Ming, chairman of Sichuan Baren New Energy Co., Ltd., said.