1. Agrochemicals

• Fungicide: Sulphur powder acts as a contact fungicide, meaning it controls fungal diseases by directly interacting with the fungal cells on the plant surface.
• Plant Nutrient: Sulphur is an essential macro-nutrient for plant growth, playing a crucial role in various metabolic processes, including protein synthesis, enzyme activity, and chlorophyll formation.

2. Polymers & Resins

• Vulcanization: Sulphur powder is used in rubber manufacturing primarily in the process of vulcanization. During vulcanization, sulphur reacts with the rubber molecules, forming cross-links between the polymer chains. This process significantly enhances the rubber's strength, elasticity, and resistance to abrasion and weathering, making it more durable and suitable for various applications.

3. Pharmaceuticals

• Keratolytic Action: Sulfur helps to shed dead skin cells, making it effective for conditions like acne and seborrheic dermatitis, where clogged pores and skin shedding are issues. 
• Antifungal and Antibacterial Properties: Sulfur's ability to kill certain bacteria and fungi makes it useful in treating skin infections and conditions like scabies, where mites are the cause. 
• Topical Formulations: Sulfur is commonly incorporated into creams, lotions, and ointments for topical application to the skin.

4. Performance Chemicals

• Sulfuric Acid Production: Sulphur is a crucial reactant in the industrial production of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This acid is then used in a vast range of applications, including the production of fertilizers, lead-acid batteries, and various other industrial chemicals. 
• Matches: Sulphur powder is a key ingredient in match heads, contributing to the ignition and burning process. 

5. Pulp & Paper Solutions

• Sulfite Pulping: Sulfite pulping involves treating wood chips with sulfur dioxide and/or bisulfite ions, which react with lignin to produce water-soluble sulfonated lignins that are then degraded by acid hydrolysis. This process is used to produce pulps with varying lignin contents. 

6. Metal Treatment

• Enhancing Machinability: Sulphur, when added to steel, can form specific types of inclusions that act as lubricant during machining. These inclusions create a more favorable environment for chip formation, leading to better surface finish and reduced tool wear.
• Desulphurization in Steelmaking: Sulphur is often considered an impurity in steel, as it can reduce its ductility, impact toughness, and weldability. During steel production, particularly in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process, desulphurization is crucial to reduce sulphur content to acceptable levels. Methods like lime injection or wire feeding, where reagents are injected into the molten steel, are used to remove sulphur.