Low-Sulfur Diesel Fuels: Pluses and Minuses

Abstract

One of the basic factors that negatively affect the ecological properties of diesel fuels is the content of sulfur compounds in the fuel. Calculations show that in burning 50-54 million tons of diesel fuel (average production volume of this fuel in Russia in recent years) containing 0.2% (2000 ppm) sulfur (more than 70% of the diesel fuel produced in Russia has this content), approximately 200,000 tons of sulfur oxides, a significant portion in large cities, is emitted into the atmosphere. In addition, sulfur compounds together with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a source of solid particles in diesel engine exhaust gases.The requirements for the sulfur content of diesel fuels abroad have been gradually stiffened from 500 ppm in 1996 to 50 ppm in 2005. In some countries, the standards are even more severe. A standard for a maximum sulfur content of 10 ppm is already in effect in Sweden. In mid-2006, a maximum level of 15 ppm will be introduced in the USA, and 80% of the oil refineries (OR) in this country are ready to produce so-called ultralow-sulfur diesel (ULSD) [1] and 20% will convert to manufacture of ULSD by 2010.The trend toward decreasing the sulfur content in diesel fuels in the USA is confirmed by the data published in [2]. In 2004, the supply of low-sulfur diesel increased by 7% with a simultaneous more than 4% decrease in the supply of fuel with a higher sulfur content.Beginning in 2009, the sulfur content in diesel fuel in all EEC countries will be set at a maximum of 10 ppm and in 2010, the entire diesel automobile fleet will be converted to fuel with near-zero sulfur content -NZSD (near-zero sulfur diesel) [3]. These severe standards are not only imposed on fuels for high-speed automobile diesel engines but similar requirements are also beginning to spread to diesel fuels for

Desulphurization Study of Petroleum Products Through Extraction With Aqueous Ionic Liquids

“…Sulphur occurs in many forms in petroleum like free sulphur, H 2 S, marcaptans, sulphides, disulphide and thiophenes 1 . These compounds are undesirable in the petroleum because of their potential corrosion problems in refining process 2-4. Further more, these compounds are responsible for environmental problems [5][6][7][8] . Keeping in view the hazardous effects of the sulphur in petroleum, much attention is being paid to desulphurization in the recent years to protect the environment 9,10. Primitive techniques such as doctor sweetening was developed in 1860's, while the others developed later on were based on the oxidation of thioles to sulphides and disulphides 11,12. These processes were used to eliminate the corrosion and bad odour but not the sulphur compounds.…”

Partial Least-Squares Predictions of Nonpetroleum-Derived Fuel Content and Resultant Properties When Blended with Petroleum-Derived Fuels

“…It thus becomes important to have the capability to rapidly ascertain the identities and amounts of alternate fuels that may be present. This is to facilitate quality assessment, but it is also important in order to assess the impact of the compositional differences induced by the presence of FT and biofuels , on critical fuel performance parameters such as lubricity , and elastomer seal swelling. Furthermore, biodiesel fuels are more prone to water absorbance than petrochemical fuels, and this promotes metal oxidation and biological growth in the Navy’s fuels infrastructure.…”