Why sulphur in diesel

There are just two of the reasons why there has been a need to significantly reduce the sulphur contents of fuels. A European Fuel Quality Directive was set out in which stated that as of 1st January , all non-road mobile machinery should only contain up to a maximum of 10 milligrams of sulphur for every kilogram of fuel used 10 ppm or 0.

In an update was made in the UK to British Standard BS for gas oil red diesel requiring a limit of 10mg of sulphur per kg fuel for mobile off-road equipment.

Privacy Policy. Accept Cookies. Contact Privacy Statement Terms of Use. Related Posts. Energy Efficiency for Hydraulic Systems. Enabling Commercial Vehicles to Move Cleaner. But sulphur in diesel is particularly known to cause damage to both engine components and air quality following combustion. Luckily, modern diesel fuels now contain far less sulphur and particulate content due to advancements in the refining process and legislated changes to fuel standards.

This article explains how and why sulphur content has been down to its lowest level in over years. Sulphur is a naturally occurring element that is tasteless and odourless in its natural form, and is a key component in many amino acids and proteins that are essential to life on earth. The average human consumes around mg of sulphur every day through a normal diet.

However, it can be extremely harmful in compound forms — especially those formed after combustion in fuel. It produces sulphur dioxide, which in turn causes corrosive wear on metal engine components and is one of the key atmospheric pollutants that contribute to air pollution and acid rain.

Historically, additives have been used in engines to reduce the effect that sulphur has on vulnerable components. The intended effect of lowering sulfur content in diesel fuel has led to many positives that can be derived from the large reductions in harmful emissions. Unfortunately, to achieve reduced sulfur levels, the fuel must first be processed. Whether the benefit of reducing emissions outweighs the negative side effects of ultra-low sulfur diesel is a judgment we will leave for you to make.

Since the 90s, EPA mandates have resulted in a This reduction is directly responsible for a decrease in sulfur dioxide SO 2 emissions which, alone, have been a major contributor to serious health and environmental issues. Health concerns related to sulfur dioxide SO 2 exposure include respiratory problems and lung damage.

Tree, plant, and stone damage, acid rain, and haze are some of the environmental effects of sulfur dioxide SO 2 emissions. Sulfur reduction in diesel fuel has also enabled the use of advanced emission control devices in modern diesel engines.

Nitrogen oxide and particulate matter have both been found to contribute to serious health problems such as premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function.

In addition to these issues, NOx and particulate matter emissions are suspected to be carcinogenic and contribute to the development of lung cancer. By reducing emissions from these popular modes of transport, it can become apparently clear that the benefits of ultra-low sulfur diesel lie in the betterment of both public health and the surrounding environment. Removing sulfur contents from diesel fuel has been shown to greatly alter the lubricity and overall chemical composition of the fuel.

Refineries use severe hydrotreating to remove sulfur. However, these costs may be significantly higher depending on the market, distribution, and other production factors. Lower fuel lubricity is known to contribute to increased engine wear which can also increase maintenance and repair costs for equipment that consume ultra-low sulfur diesel. In , pollution awareness and prevention were on the rise as emission mandates came into full effect.

Since then, tank corrosion has hit an all-time high for both gasoline and diesel storage. A recent study suggests this may be symptomatic of fuel tankers participating in switch loading where tanker trucks might transport ethanol-based gasoline one day only to haul ultra-low sulfur diesel the next. Alone, ultra-low sulfur diesel has a higher affinity to water than traditional diesel.

Water is known to be one of the main contributors to tank corrosion while also fostering rapid microbial growth in diesel.