Editorial Comment: A low-sulfur world
As the world continues to welcome more vehicles on the road, and as emerging economies invest in civil, industrial and energy projects, global fuels demand is forecast to increase through the end of the decade.
As the world continues to welcome more vehicles on the road, and as emerging economies invest in civil, industrial and energy projects, global fuels demand is forecast to increase through the end of the decade.
More vehicles on the road equates to higher emissions rates and, in turn, more airborne pollutants. To combat these effects, legislation mandating decreased emissions and lower levels of airborne pollutants is coming into effect. In response, refiners are implementing operational and processing changes to reduce sulfur levels in transportation fuels.
The refining industry has already made incredible strides in reducing sulfur in transportation fuels. As shown in Fig. 1, sulfur levels in diesel fuel have been cut dramatically around the globe within the past decade. Refiners have invested, and continue to invest, billions of dollars in new units, upgrades/retrofits and expansions to meet new sulfur and emissions regulations. These investments promote the reduction of airborne pollutants in both diesel and gasoline passenger vehicles, help produce higher-quality transportation fuels and continue to move the industry toward a low-sulfur world. HP
 |
|
Fig. 1. Sulfur levels in diesel fuel: global status 2005 (top)
vs. 2015 (bottom). Source: United Nations Environment
Program, PCFV Secretariat.
|
The Author
From the Archive