RESID HDS GETS LOW RATING IN EUROPE.

This report provides an up-date of previous Concawe reports on the cost of fixed-bed catalytic desulfurization of residual fuel oil as one of the factors influencing the economic implications of reducing air pollutin due to sulfur dioxide. A major conclusion of the report is that this process results in considerable gross energy penalties in terms of fuel consumed and other losses. This report reflects the increase in feedstock costs and the considerable increase in oil refining investment and operating costs. The data provided in this report refer to the desulfurization of Kuwait feedstock (high sulfur and moderate metal content). Kuwait has been chosen because only for this feedstock were data available to allow any comparison of the different fixed-bed catalytic desulfurization processes so far developed in the industry.