Future Gas Prices?!
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Future Gas Prices?!
Can anyone confirm or deny industry rumor, that gasoline
(not diesel ) prices will at least double in the next couple of years because the gasoline companies will be removing sulpher from the fuel?
(not diesel ) prices will at least double in the next couple of years because the gasoline companies will be removing sulpher from the fuel?
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Calgary Canada
Future Gas Prices?!
I'm not sure where you heard that rumour, but it is FALSE.
There are only trace amounts of sulfur in gasoline, due both to its molecular structure and the refining process. The technology exists to completely remove it, but at the current time it doesn't make sense economically. The price to remove the last 0.1% sulfur content IMHO, doesn't justify the cost. Even at that, it would not double the cost of gasoline.
It was a bigger deal with diesel fuel in years past, because, due to the molecular structure of diesel fuel, there was a greater percentage of sulfur atoms present. The industry moved rather quickly to elimate this sulfur and produce the current low sulfur diesel fuel.
The sulfur that is the main source of acid rain is created for the most part by the burning of coal in electricity generation, thus the move to natural gas generation (sulfur free). It is also produced by the iron smelting industry, and others.
Most urban smog is unburnt hydrocarbon and NOx molecules. A properly working catalytic converter converts most of these molecules into H20 and CO2.
Waxy
There are only trace amounts of sulfur in gasoline, due both to its molecular structure and the refining process. The technology exists to completely remove it, but at the current time it doesn't make sense economically. The price to remove the last 0.1% sulfur content IMHO, doesn't justify the cost. Even at that, it would not double the cost of gasoline.
It was a bigger deal with diesel fuel in years past, because, due to the molecular structure of diesel fuel, there was a greater percentage of sulfur atoms present. The industry moved rather quickly to elimate this sulfur and produce the current low sulfur diesel fuel.
The sulfur that is the main source of acid rain is created for the most part by the burning of coal in electricity generation, thus the move to natural gas generation (sulfur free). It is also produced by the iron smelting industry, and others.
Most urban smog is unburnt hydrocarbon and NOx molecules. A properly working catalytic converter converts most of these molecules into H20 and CO2.
Waxy
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Oct 7, 2003 01:03 AM
