Dimethyl Disulfide: Rising Demand and New Research Trends

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS, CAS# 624-92-0) has recently witnessed a remarkable increase in market demand and continuous progress in related research.

Soaring Market Demand

   DMDS is extensively utilized in multiple fields, which is a crucial factor contributing to its rapidly growing market demand.

In the agricultural sector, it serves as an effective and eco-friendly soil fumigant, playing a vital role in nematode control. With the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs planning to take control measures on chloropicrin in July 2024, the phasing out process of chloropicrin is accelerating. As a result, DMDS, as a potential substitute, has witnessed a consequent expansion in market space. Moreover, it is a key raw material for the synthesis of numerous high-efficiency and low-toxicity pesticides. With the global agriculture's growing emphasis on sustainable development and environmental protection, the research, development, and application of new pesticides are on the rise, further fueling the demand for DMDS.

    In the petroleum and natural gas industry, DMDS is employed as a catalyst to assist in reducing the sulfur content in fuels. As environmental regulations regarding clean fuels become increasingly stringent, refineries are compelled to use more DMDS to meet the requirements for producing clean fuels. Additionally, it can form a protective film on metal surfaces, safeguarding equipment from corrosion. During the extraction and processing of petroleum and natural gas, equipment is prone to corrosion by acidic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, thereby augmenting the demand for DMDS.

    In the pharmaceutical industry, DMDS is a crucial intermediate in the synthesis of various drugs, including anti-tumor drugs and cardiovascular drugs. With the global population aging and the growing emphasis on health, the pharmaceutical industry's demand for DMDS continues to climb. Utilizing DMDS as an intermediate can optimiz the reaction conditions for drug synthesis, enhance the yield and purity of drugs, consequently reducing production costs and boosting the quality and quantity of drugs.

    In other fields, DMDS can be used as a synthetic component of flavor substances to enhance the aroma and taste of food. As consumers pursue high-quality daily necessities, the demand for high-end spices and flavors is constantly increasing, and DMDS plays a pivotal role in the synthesis of these products. Meanwhile, it can also act as a rubber vulcanizing agent, improving the vulcanization speed and quality of rubber, thus enhancing the physical and chemical stability of rubber. As the market for rubber products continues to expand, the demand for DMDS is also rising.

New Research Trends

    Recently, DMDS has also achieved many new research breakthroughs.

    The Soil Pest Control Innovation Team of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, published an online research paper titled "Transcriptome Reveals the Toxicity Difference of Dimethyl Disulfide by Contact and Fumigation on Meloidogyne Incognita through Calcium Channel-Mediated Oxidative Phosphorylation" in the internationally renowned journal Journal of Hazardous Materials. The paper analyzed the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of the differences in the biological activity of the soil fumigant DMDS on root-knot nematodes under two different action modes: contact and fumigation, providing new ideas for the scientific and efficient application of the new fumigant DMDS.

    In addition, a study has successfully achieved the efficient removal of DMDS by isolating three strains of bacteria with high degradation ability from kitchen waste. The research not only revealed the key genes and enzymes of these bacteria in the DMDS metabolic pathway but also optimized the degradation effect through the construction of synthetic flora, providing new insights for the removal of DMDS.