wgg@floyd.UUCP (Bill Graves) (02/03/84)
The origin of the sulfur in gasoline is the crude oil from which
it was refined. Certain crudes are highly sulfurous, others are
"sweet". The Arabian crudes are "sweet", as, I understand, are
the north sea crudes. The western American crudes tend to be
"sour". A similar situation exists, of course, with coal. The
sulfur can be chemically removed, at a certain cost, but doing
so usually depends on the presence of a strong market for
sulfur/sulfurous compounds. I understand the present market
for sulfur is somewhat depressed, although not as much as it was
during the recent recession. So the choice for a refiner becomes
* Use "sweet" crude. (From the Arabs?)
* Flood the market with sulfur. (If the market will take it)
* Acid rain.
* More expensive gas.
I guess it is safe to say, in the last 9 years, that we have had
all four. The best of all possible worlds.
More than you ever wanted to know.
Bill Graves (floyd!wgg)