Elimination of Metallic, Asphaltic and Sulfuric Substances from Oil Residues.

Desulfurization of heavy fuel oil is becoming more and more important against the background of increasing efforts for preservation of our environment. For effective desulfurization practically no other method exists than hydrogenation by raffination with catalysts, the result of which can, however, seriously be handicapped by high metal contents. The process of desulfurization has therefore not to be seen isolated, but as inseparably linked with the elimination of metallic substances which, in turn, are associated with asphaltenes. On the strength of this outstanding knowledge of the subject, the author examines the methods in use all over the world for extraction of such metallic, asphaltic and sulfuric substances from residues of distillation, and summarizes the essential findings.