Desulfurization Of Liquid Fuels Industrial Productivity And Environmental Health In Petroleum Refining

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2017 in the subject Engineering - Chemical Engineering, grade: A, course: Directed Studies, language: English, abstract: This study focuses on the removal of sulfur compounds from liquid fuels specifically gasoline and diesel fuels. The paper centers on the urgency and effect of environmental regulations due to health and global warming concerns on the emerging methods of achieving ultralow sulfur fuels (ULSF). The traditional hydrodesulphurization process is reviewed and its limitations to achieving ULSF is highlighted. The effect and challenge in achieving ULSF such as change in octane and cetane numbers and the reduced quality of the fuels were also foregrounded. Alternative methods for improved desulfurization process including Biodesulfurization and adsorption desulfurization were examined. Current works by researchers on the methods and processes of achieving ULSF were also investigated. Desulfurization is the process or processes used to remove or reduce the sulfur content of natural gas and other refined petroleum products such as diesel and gasoline. Sulfur is a non-metallic chemical element which is yellow in color and solid at room temperature. It is abundant in nature and is usually found in elemental form and also occurs as a sulfide or sulfate mineral. Sulfur can be used for many productive processes such in the manufacture of fertilizers and insecticides and it is an essential element for all living organism. Despite its usefulness, sulfur when exposed in a certain form to the environment can lead to environmental, material and health damage. One of the major sources of sulfur today is the petroleum industry where sulfur occurs as thiols, thiophenes, organic sulfides and disulfides. They occur in several refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, coal, and fuel oils. They constitute as contaminants and therefore are undesirable constituents in the oil and gas industry.

This book describes the operation of the various desulfurization process units in a petroleum refinery. It also explains the processes that produce raw materials for the petrochemical industry. The book contains background chapters on the composition and evaluation of feedstocks and includes diagrams and tables of feedstocks and their respective

Fundamentals of Petroleum Refining presents the fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics, and it explains the scientific background essential for understanding refinery operations. The text also provides a detailed introduction to refinery engineering topics, ranging from the basic principles and unit operations to overall refinery economics. The book covers important topics, such as clean fuels, gasification, biofuels, and environmental impact of refining, which are not commonly discussed in most refinery textbooks. Throughout the source, problem sets and examples are given to help the reader practice and apply the fundamental principles of refining. Chapters 1-10 can be used as core materials for teaching undergraduate courses. The first two chapters present an introduction to the petroleum refining industry and then focus on feedstocks and products. Thermophysical properties of crude oils and petroleum fractions, including processes of atmospheric and vacuum distillations, are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4. Conversion processes, product blending, and alkylation are covered in chapters 5-10. The remaining chapters discuss hydrogen production, clean fuel production, refining economics and safety, acid gas treatment and removal, and methods for environmental and effluent treatments. This source can serve both professionals and students (on undergraduate and graduate levels) of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Chemistry, and Chemical Technology. Beginners in the engineering field, specifically in the oil and gas industry, may also find this book invaluable. Provides balanced coverage of fundamental and operational topics Includes spreadsheets and process simulators for showing trends and simulation case studies Relates processing to planning and management to give an integrated picture of refining