Turkmenistan ranks fifth in the world for iodine reserves and production and plans to transition to integrated processing of iodine-bromine waters to extract a full range of trace elements.

At a recent meeting titled “Science — The Path to Development” held at the country’s Academy of Sciences Institute of Chemistry, key domestic developments were discussed, including joint projects with international partners.

Lyudmila Atamalova, senior research associate at the Laboratory of Chemistry and Technologies of Hydro-Mineral Raw Materials, highlighted the potential of new deposits, particularly at West Ekerem, where not only iodine but also bromine, lithium, strontium, and salts could be extracted. The raw materials require impurity removal; notably, Turkmenistan’s iodine is free of radioactive isotopes. Four operating plants use an air-desorption method for iodine extraction, while sublimation is considered the most advanced technology.

Special attention was given to the Bereket deposit, where iodine concentration reaches a record 420 milligrams per liter — a unique figure globally. Turkmenistan is negotiating with foreign companies, including Chinese partners, to implement new technologies for processing hydro-mineral raw materials.

The meeting also covered a project to process licorice pulp waste into fertilizers based on glycyrrhizic acid byproducts produced at the Bereket plant. Joint research with Uzbek scientists has been underway since late 2024, with patenting of the Turkmen technology in preparation. Waste processing is expected to make production more environmentally friendly and enhance soil fertility.

Turkmenistan continues to develop its chemical industry by introducing innovative methods for the integrated use of natural resources and collaborating with international partners.