China Achieves Landmark Breakthrough in Ultra-High-Purity Helium Production
BY STEVEN, Published August 20, 2025
A Chinese technology company has developed and validated a domestically built cryogenic refining and neon-removal system, marking a major leap in extracting helium from low-abundance natural gas. The system recently completed engineering acceptance at a natural gas helium extraction project in Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, delivering helium of an unprecedented purity of 99.99997% (6N9 grade) with neon impurities below 0.3 parts per million (ppm). This milestone represents China’s first 6N9-grade ultra-high-purity helium production from natural gas, overcoming key technical barriers in the field.
Technical Innovation Addresses Helium’s Scarcity
Helium is a non-renewable, strategically important resource essential for large-scale scientific facilities, advanced medical devices, and aerospace applications. In China, helium is especially scarce in natural gas reserves, with average domestic helium content ranging from 0.03% to 0.05—far below the 1%–7% often found in helium-rich international fields. This “helium-poor” characteristic has long constrained extraction efficiency, and traditional purification technologies have struggled to consistently achieve the 6N purity level.
The breakthrough system uses an innovative ultra-low-temperature adsorption separation process and proprietary high-surface-area adsorbents to remove neon impurities with extraordinary precision. By exploiting and overcoming the minute 0.6-angstrom difference between helium and neon molecules, the system reduces neon content to below 0.3 ppm—an achievement beyond the reach of conventional methods.
Global Recognition and Strategic Significance
Independent evaluations affirm that the system meets “globally leading standards,” signaling China’s emergence from a position of dependence to one of capability and leadership in high-purity helium technology. The company is recognized as a “specialized and innovative” enterprise with 19 patents and a leading role in setting industry standards, including the development of a “Helium Purifier” specification. The technology has achieved full localization of equipment and processes and supports an annual helium production capacity of 4 million cubic meters. This breakthrough not only bolsters domestic resource autonomy but also demonstrates competitive strength on the international stage, with exports to international markets underscoring its global reach.
Future Outlook: Advancing Cryogenic Technologies
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue advancing cryogenic vacuum and gas separation technologies to strengthen China’s strategic scientific capabilities. Ongoing innovation in these areas is expected to reinforce national resilience in critical supply chains while contributing to global industrial progress. According to the project’s chief engineer, the breakthrough not only addresses domestic resource constraints but also positions China as a key player in the international helium supply chain.
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