Diesel fuel quality - Refining constrictions and the environment

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5143212

Unzelman, G H

Possible regulatory action by the Environmental Protection Agency to control diesel fuel sulfur and aromatics content is under investigation. Just as the lead phasedown has played a part in bringing more volatile gasoline to the marketplace, so has it contributed to the decline in diesel fuel quality. Higher conversion to generate more octane for cracked gasoline has increased the aromatics in the distillate fraction. While the industry is technically capable of reducing sulfur and aromatics in over-the-highway diesel fuel, costs for individual refining situations will be greater than those indicated by industry type studies for EPA. If rulemaking does not allow adequate time for process upgrading, problems could surface in the marketplace. In any case regulations will call for capital investment in hydrogen processing as well as higher operating costs. This will place pressure on small refining operations and promote further industry consolidation.

• OSTI ID: 5143212
• Report Number(s): CONF-8703120-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DIESEL FUELS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROCESSING
QUALITY ASSURANCE
REFINING
REGULATIONS
SULFUR
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS