The facility that extracts 6N9-grade ultrapure helium from natural gas operates at a project base in Yan'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Photo: Science and Technology Daily

China's first facility to extract 6N9-grade ultrapure helium from natural gas has passed the acceptance test, marking an important breakthrough in extracting helium from low-abundance natural gas sources, Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

Vacree Technologies Co., Ltd., an Anhui-based technology company specializing in cryogenics and vacuum technologies, recently announced that its self-developed cryogenic helium purification and neon-removal system has passed acceptance testing at a helium extraction project in Yan'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the report said.

The system produces helium with a purity of 99.99997 percent (6N9 grade) and keeps neon impurities below 0.3 ppm (parts per million). This is the first facility in China capable of producing 6N9-grade ultrapure helium from natural gas, marking a significant breakthrough in extracting helium from low-abundance natural gas sources, the media report said.

Helium is a non-renewable strategic resource. Because of its unique ultra-low temperature properties and chemical stability, it is widely used in large scientific equipment, advanced medical technologies, and aerospace. It is often called the "blood of industry," according to the report. 

The research team created a new "combined process" for helium extraction. This process links four steps: hydrogen removal, membrane separation, pressure swing adsorption, and cryogenic purification.

The system can run continuously 24 hours a day and is able to produce 400,000 cubic meters of high-purity helium each year, according to the report.

Global Times