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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site floyd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!wgg
From: wgg@floyd.UUCP (Bill Graves)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Catalytic converters increase sulfur emissions
Message-ID: <2042@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-Feb-84 15:45:57 EST
Article-I.D.: floyd.2042
Posted: Fri Feb  3 15:45:57 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 04:13:59 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Whippany NJ
Lines: 21

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)