Characterization, determination and elimination technologies for sulfur from petroleum: Toward cleaner fuel and a safe environment

Sulfur-containing compounds are the most abundant compounds in crude oil. Sulfur in liquid fuel oil leads to the emission of sulfur oxides and sulfate particulate matter which not only endangers health and community property but also reduces the life of the catalysts and engines due to corrosion. Various methods, with a high level of precision and sensitivity, have been developed to analyze sulfur-containing compounds. On the other side, the removal and characterization of sulfur-containing compounds in crude oils and petroleum products is of great importance, not only for the downstream refining process, control/optimization, and environmental compliance, but also for upstream geochemical studies for exploration and production. This review summarizes the analytical strategies and some of the most important and promising technologies for the removal of sulfur from oil.