Bromine
halogen · Group 17 · Period 4
Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Source | Br⁻ Concentration | Extraction Cost/MT Br₂ | Major Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Sea Brine | 5,000-12,000 ppm | $800-1,200 | Israel, Jordan | Co-produced with potash, lowest cost globally |
| Underground Formation Brines | 4,000-6,000 ppm | $1,200-1,800 | Arkansas (USA), Michigan (USA) | Deep well extraction, consistent quality |
| Oil Field Brines | 500-2,000 ppm | $1,800-2,500 | Texas, Russia, UK | Byproduct of oil/gas production |
| Seawater (Direct) | 65-70 ppm | Not viable | N/A | Too dilute for economic extraction |
| Bittern (Salt Production) | 800-3,000 ppm | $1,500-2,200 | China, India, Japan | Byproduct of sea salt production |
Seawater & Brine Sources - Primary Raw Materials
Current Market Price: $3,800-4,500/MT (elemental bromine) Major Global Sources: Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan): 5,000-12,000 ppm Br⁻ - Highest concentration globally Arkansas Brines (USA): 4,000-6,000 ppm Br⁻ - Underground formation waters Shandong Province (China): 100-1,000 ppm Br⁻ - Underground brines Ocean Water: 65-70 ppm Br⁻ - Not economically viable for direct extraction 2025 Production Leaders: Israel: 165,000 MT (32% of global production) Jordan: 125,000 MT (24% of global production) China: 110,000 MT (21% of global production) USA: 85,000 MT (16% of global production) Raw Material Source Br⁻ Concentration Extraction Cost/MT Br₂ Major Locations Notes Dead Sea Brine 5,000-12,000 ppm $800-1,200 Israel, Jordan Co-produced with potash, lowest cost globally Underground Formation Brines 4,000
⚠️ Seawater Bromine Extraction
Commercial Viability: ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ONLY FROM CONCENTRATED BRINES Ocean Concentration: 65-70 ppm (too low for direct extraction) Chemical Form: Br⁻ (bromide ion) Status: While seawater contains 65-70 ppm bromine, direct extraction is uneconomical. Commercial production uses concentrated brines (>1,000 ppm) from salt lakes, underground formations, or bitterns from salt production. Note: The Dead Sea contains 150-180 times more bromine than ocean water, making it the world's richest commercial source.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Bromine | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brine Pumping & Treatment | $300-600 | 15-20% | Varies by brine concentration |
| Chlorine (Oxidant) | $400-550 | 20-25% | 0.45 MT Cl₂ per MT Br₂ |
| Energy (Steam & Electricity) | $250-400 | 12-18% | Stripping and distillation |
| Labor | $150-250 | 8-10% | Highly automated process |
| Equipment & Maintenance | $300-450 | 15-18% | Corrosion-resistant materials required |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $400-550 | 18-22% | SO₂, caustic, waste treatment |
| Total Production Cost | $1,800-2,800 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $3,800-4,500/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air/Steam Stripping | 8-12 MJ/kg | 50-55% | Steam | Liberating Br₂ from solution at 90-100°C |
| Brine Pumping | 2-3 MJ/kg | 12-15% | Electricity | Deep well pumps, circulation |
| Distillation/Purification | 3-5 MJ/kg | 20-25% | Steam/Electricity | Condensation, fractional distillation |
| Cooling & Condensation | 2-3 MJ/kg | 10-12% | Electricity | Chilled water systems, condensers |
Chlorination Process Details
Acidification: pH adjustment to 3.5 with H₂SO₄ Chlorination: Cl₂ + 2Br⁻ → Br₂ + 2Cl⁻ Air Stripping: Removal of Br₂ vapor at 90-100°C Absorption: Br₂ + SO₂ + 2H₂O → 2HBr + H₂SO₄ Re-chlorination: 2HBr + Cl₂ → Br₂ + 2HCl
Alternative Electrolytic Process
Direct Electrolysis: 2Br⁻ → Br₂ + 2e⁻ Energy Use: 2.5-3.0 kWh/kg Br₂ Advantages: No chlorine needed Disadvantages: Higher capital cost Usage: Limited to high-concentration brines
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elemental Bromine | Br₂ | 159.808 g/mol | 99.5-99.95% | $3.80-4.50 | Brominated flame retardants, drilling fluids |
| Hydrobromic Acid (48%) | HBr | 80.912 g/mol | 47-49% HBr | $1.20-1.80 | Pharmaceuticals, alkyl bromides |
| Sodium Bromide | NaBr | 102.894 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $2.80-3.50 | Oil drilling, photography, pharmaceuticals |
| Calcium Bromide (Solution) | CaBr₂ | 199.886 g/mol | 52-54% CaBr₂ | $0.95-1.35 | Clear brine drilling fluids |
| Zinc Bromide (Solution) | ZnBr₂ | 225.198 g/mol | 54-57% ZnBr₂ | $2.20-2.80 | High-density drilling fluids |
| Potassium Bromide | KBr | 119.002 g/mol | 99.0-99.9% | $4.50-6.00 | Photography, pharmaceuticals |
| Lithium Bromide | LiBr | 86.845 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $8.00-12.00 | Absorption chillers, batteries |
| DBDPE (Flame Retardant) | C₁₄H₄Br₁₀O | 959.167 g/mol | 97-98% | $6.50-8.50 | Plastic flame retardant |
| TBBPA (Tetrabromobisphenol A) | C₁₅H₁₂Br₄O₂ | 543.871 g/mol | 98-99% | $5.80-7.20 | Circuit boards, epoxy resins |
| Methyl Bromide | CH₃Br | 94.939 g/mol | 99.5% | $4.00-5.50 | Fumigant (restricted use) |
| Ethyl Bromide | C₂H₅Br | 108.966 g/mol | 99.0% | $12.00-18.00 | Pharmaceutical synthesis |
| n-Propyl Bromide | C₃H₇Br | 122.992 g/mol | 99.0% | $8.00-12.00 | Solvent, degreaser |
Suppliers by country
🇮🇱 Israel
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| ICL (Israel Chemicals Ltd) | Elemental bromine, flame retardants, clear brine fluids, brominated compounds | World's largest producer, integrated Dead Sea operations |
🇯🇴 Jordan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Bromine Company (Albemarle JV) | Elemental bromine, flame retardants, bromine derivatives | Dead Sea extraction, high-purity bromine |
| Arab Potash Company | Elemental bromine, bromides | Co-production with potash |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle Corporation | Elemental bromine, flame retardants, clear brine fluids, specialty chemicals | Arkansas brine operations, advanced brominated products |
| TETRA Technologies | Calcium bromide, zinc bromide, clear brine fluids | Completion fluids for oil & gas |
| Lanxess | Brominated flame retardants, rubber chemicals | Specialty brominated polymers |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Shandong Weifang Longwei | Elemental bromine, sodium bromide, hydrobromic acid | Underground brine extraction |
| Shandong Haihua Group | Bromine, bromides, flame retardants | Integrated brine chemical production |
| Shouguang Luyuan Salt Chemical | Bromine, brominated compounds | Bittern-based production |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Hindustan Salts Limited | Elemental bromine, industrial bromides | Bittern-based production |
| Archean Chemical Industries | Elemental bromine, industrial salt, sulphate of potash | Brine-based integrated production |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Tosoh Corporation | Bromine, flame retardants, fine chemicals | High-purity brominated specialties |
| Toray Fine Chemicals | Hydrobromic acid, pharmaceutical bromides | Electronic-grade chemicals |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | USA Market | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flame Retardants | $3.2 billion | 18% share | 42% share | 4.5% |
| Clear Brine Fluids | $1.1 billion | 35% share | 8% share | 3.2% |
| Biocides | $450 million | 22% share | 15% share | 3.8% |
| Pharmaceutical Intermediates | $380 million | 25% share | 20% share | 5.5% |
| Agricultural Chemicals | $320 million | 15% share | 35% share | 2.8% |
| Photography & Imaging | $85 million | 30% share | 25% share | -8.5% |
| Water Treatment | $290 million | 20% share | 30% share | 4.2% |
| Other Industrial Uses | $440 million | 18% share | 28% share | 3.5% |
Market trends
Flame Retardant Evolution: Shift from PBDEs to polymeric and reactive flame retardants due to environmental regulations Electric Vehicle Impact: Growing demand for brominated flame retardants in EV battery systems and electronics Mercury Reduction: Bromine-based mercury emission control systems gaining adoption in coal power plants Pharmaceutical Growth: Increased use in drug synthesis, especially for COVID-19 antivirals and CNS drugs Water Scarcity: Rising demand for bromine-based biocides in water treatment and cooling towers Geographic Concentration Risk: 56% of production from Dead Sea region creates supply vulnerability Recycling Challenges: Limited bromine recovery from end-of-life products, unlike metals Energy Storage: Research into zinc-bromine flow batteries for grid-scale storage applications
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elemental Bromine | Br₂ | 159.808 | 6.26 |
| Hydrobromic Acid | HBr | 80.912 | 12.36 |
| Sodium Bromide | NaBr | 102.894 | 9.72 |
| Calcium Bromide | CaBr₂ | 199.886 | 5.00 |
| Zinc Bromide | ZnBr₂ | 225.198 | 4.44 |
| Potassium Bromide | KBr | 119.002 | 8.40 |
| Lithium Bromide | LiBr | 86.845 | 11.52 |
References
Explore on Amazon
Explore Bromine-related materials, books, and lab gear on Amazon. Selections are search-based; results refresh on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, nanos earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.