Sulfur industry in Runcheng town

The sulfur smelting industry in Runcheng Town is based on Liushan. As early as the end of Sui Dynasty and the beginning of Tang Dynasty, there was already a manual workshop for smelting sulfur here. In the early years of Ming Dynasty, the technology of sulfur production in earth kiln was created. Later, the "heaven and earth pot" smelting method was invented, that is, two pots with a small mouth and a big belly, about 2.8 feet high and a diameter of about 1 foot, were used to put sulfur ore into one pot and then turn the other pot upside down. The mouth is sealed with wheat bran mud and the broken carbon is placed around it. After the carbon is ignited, barbecue with fire. After a day and a night of barbecue, the sulfur ore in the pot melted.

Although the output of sulfur produced in this way is low, the quality is very good. This technology is a leap in the history of sulfur smelting in China. It is more advanced than the sulfur smelting technology recorded in Wu Kai in the Temple of Heaven in Song Dynasty.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, sulfur was widely used to make gunpowder and resist foreign aggression, which naturally promoted the development of sulfur industry. In the early years of the Republic of China, sulfur was not only used to make gunpowder, but also used in the production of chemical products in large quantities, and the demand for sulfur gradually increased. Therefore, at that time, the sulfur smelting industry in Liu Shan Village was scattered and became the main pillar of the economy at that time. During this period, there were many professional technicians in and around Liu Shan Village, and the sulfur smelting industry also expanded to the surrounding villages. People began to smelt a lot of sulfur, and the production technology also made a major breakthrough. The original smelting method of "one furnace and two tanks" was transformed into one furnace and three tanks, which greatly improved the production efficiency and sulfur yield.

In the late 1950s, Liu Shan's small sulfur smelter in Shangxigou was taken over by Yangcheng No.2 Light Industry Bureau, and large-scale sulfur smelting in earthen furnaces was started, with a monthly output of 1.20 tons, which was purchased by the state at a fixed point, and the demand was in short supply. The small sulfur smelting plant behind Nansi Temple was taken over by the commune. At that time, almost one villager in Liu Shan worked in a sulfur plant on average, and received a subsidy of 50 to 60 cents a day, which was more than the work score of a laborer in other villages. In the surrounding villages, Liushan Village is the rich one.

After the founding of New China, the sulfur industry in Runcheng Town has developed on a large scale, including Zhuanghekou local state-owned sulfur plant, Shangxigou county sulfur plant in Liu Shan, Hetou commune sulfur plant, Shuiquangou commune sulfur plant, Menloudi commune sulfur plant, Nansihu commune sulfur plant, Yinbeicun sulfur plant, Qingshan Yaxiazhuang village sulfur plant, Xiaoliugou Runcheng village sulfur plant, Yangou Runcheng village sulfur plant and haystack.

Now, due to the weak market and environmental pollution, the sulfur smelting industry has disappeared in Runcheng. At that time, the sulfur smelting industry brought economic benefits to Runcheng people, but also polluted the environment. A large number of toxic gases spread in the air, and a large number of waste residues were dumped in banks and ditches. More than 20 years have passed, and the poisoned land has not been fully recovered. I think, with the continuous development of science and technology, there will be more scientific sulfur smelting technology, and rich sulfur resources will benefit the people of Runcheng.