Research Progress on the Resource Utilization of Sodium Sulfide in Industrial Solid Waste

Sodium sulfide, commonly known as sodium sulfide, with the chemical formula Na₂S, is a white or pale yellow crystalline powder characterized by a strong pungent odor. Sodium sulfide possesses a variety of physical and chemical properties such as reducibility, oxidizability, and adsorbability, which have led to its widespread application in numerous fields. In traditional industries, sodium sulfide enhances the production efficiency of papermaking, dyeing, and rubber products while reducing waste generation. Within the environmental protection sector, sodium sulfide effectively treats heavy metal-containing wastewater, facilitating resource recovery and playing a role in flue gas desulfurization to diminish pollutant emissions. In battery manufacturing, sodium sulfide has promoted the development of new energy technologies such as sodium-sulfur batteries, improving the potential for battery recycling and reuse. In agriculture, sodium sulfide is utilized for soil improvement and heavy metal immobilization, enhancing soil quality and reducing agricultural solid waste. Additionally, in the pharmaceutical field, sodium sulfide is employed in drug synthesis and biological detection, driving the resource utilization of solid waste. In recent years, with the rapid development of economic technology, the sodium sulfide industry has also achieved significant progress. With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection, research and development of sodium sulfide in solid waste utilization will focus more on environmental protection and resource recycling, promoting the greenization and sustainable development of industrial production. This paper provides a review of the primary application areas of sodium sulfide, including traditional industries, new energy, environmental protection, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, aiming to offer a reference for the development of China's sodium sulfide industry.