My father is a civil engineer, so when I was hired to be the librarian for Turner Collie & Braden, a Houston based civil engineering firm, I asked him for a little advice. “How,” I asked him, “am I going to provide these engineers the information they need to do their work? I majored in philosophy, for heaven’s sake.”
His answer … “Engineers are good at details, but sometimes they are not so good at seeing the big picture. That’s where you can help.”
That is the single most valuable piece of advice I have ever received. Since that time my research support in civil engineering, space engineering, and petroleum engineering has been performed in the context of the “big picture.”
That’s why I value an article like Chunshan Song’s “Effects of Support in Hydrotreating Catalysis for Ultra-clean Fuels” (Catalysis Today, Volume 86, Issues 1-4, 1 November 2003, Pages 211-263).
Interesting for the overview it provides of new approaches to deep desulfurization for ultra-clean gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, the abstract has a sentence that really piqued my interest …
“The society at large is stepping on the road to zero sulfur fuel, so researchers should begin with the end in mind and try to develop long-term solutions.”
We may think we are searching for ways to desulfurize to the levels required by current regulations, but ultimately, we will have to desulfurize to ZERO! As plants are designed, built and retrofitted, the ultimate goal should be kept in mind … it will save huge amounts of money in the long run.
Chunshan Song (csong@psu.edu) is Professor of Fuel Science and Chemical Engineering; Director, EMS Energy Institute; and Associate Director, Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment
View his bio at: http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/song.html
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Chevron’s "Motor Gasolines Technical Review”
Visit the Chevron site and browse the “Motor Gasolines Technical Review” (March 2008) to glean some useful desulf nuggets. One such nugget is a listing of all the ASTM standards pertaining to testing for sulfur content …
Sulfur Content
ASTM D 1266 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Lamp Method)
ASTM D 2622 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by X-Ray Spectrometry
ASTM D 3120 – Test Method for Trace Quantities of Sulfur in Light Liquid Hydrocarbons by
Oxidative Microcoulometry
ASTM D 4045 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Hydrogenolysis and Rateometric
Colorimetry
ASTM D 4294 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy-Dispersive
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
ASTM D 5453 – Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Motor
Fuels and Oil by Ultraviolet Fluorescence
ASTM D 6334 – Test Method for Sulfur in Gasoline by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence
ASTM D 6445 – Test Method for Sulfur in Gasoline by Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence
Spectrometry
As the sulfur test method names indicate, there are several technologies used to determine the sulfur content of gasoline. Some of the methods are applicable only to high sulfur levels, others cover a broad range, and some can be used only for low sulfur levels. Specific test methods need to be reviewed for applicability before selecting one to use.
Download the full review at: www.chevron.com/search/?text=driveability&Header=FromHeader
Sulfur Content
ASTM D 1266 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Lamp Method)
ASTM D 2622 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by X-Ray Spectrometry
ASTM D 3120 – Test Method for Trace Quantities of Sulfur in Light Liquid Hydrocarbons by
Oxidative Microcoulometry
ASTM D 4045 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Hydrogenolysis and Rateometric
Colorimetry
ASTM D 4294 – Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy-Dispersive
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
ASTM D 5453 – Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Motor
Fuels and Oil by Ultraviolet Fluorescence
ASTM D 6334 – Test Method for Sulfur in Gasoline by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence
ASTM D 6445 – Test Method for Sulfur in Gasoline by Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence
Spectrometry
As the sulfur test method names indicate, there are several technologies used to determine the sulfur content of gasoline. Some of the methods are applicable only to high sulfur levels, others cover a broad range, and some can be used only for low sulfur levels. Specific test methods need to be reviewed for applicability before selecting one to use.
Download the full review at: www.chevron.com/search/?text=driveability&Header=FromHeader
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Regulatory Impact Analysis
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency produces a large volume of reading matter, much of which is useful to anyone interested in the technology of desulfurization. For example, if you visit the page for Clean Air Nonroad Diesel - Tier 4 Final Rule, you will find links to the Regulatory Impact Analysis, as well as to individual chapters within that document.
Chapter 5: Fuel and Standard Feasibility, for example, describes and compares a number of desulfurization technologies offered by IFP, UOP, Akzo Nobel, Haldor Topsøe, and others.
Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (Full Document, 1,568 pp, 8.5MB, EPA420-R-04-007, May 2004)
Individual Chapters:
Executive Summary (PDF) (14 pp, 185K)
Chapter 1: Industry Characterization (PDF) (42 pp, 513K)
Chapter 2: Air Quality, Health, and Welfare Effects (PDF) (155 pp, 1MB)
Chapter 3: Emission Inventory (PDF) (105 pp, 450K)
Chapter 4: Technologies and Test Procedures for Low-emission Engines (PDF) (184 pp, 1.3MB)
Chapter 5: Fuel and Standard Feasibility (PDF) (112 pp, 463K)
Chapter 6: Estimated Engine and Equipment Costs (PDF) (98 pp, 421K)
Chapter 7: Estimated Cost of Low-sulfur Fuels (PDF) (220 pp, 1.3MB)
Chapter 8: Estimated Aggregate Cost and Cost Per Ton of Reduced Emissions (PDF) (155 pp, 1MB)
Chapter 9: Cost-Benefit Analysis (PDF) (274 pp, 1.4MB)
Chapter 10: Economic Impact Analysis (PDF) (206 pp, 669K)
Chapter 11: Small Business Fexibility Analysis (PDF) (28 pp, 174K)
Chapter 12: Regulatory Alternatives (PDF) (22 pp, 161K)
source: http://www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel/2004fr.htm
Chapter 5: Fuel and Standard Feasibility, for example, describes and compares a number of desulfurization technologies offered by IFP, UOP, Akzo Nobel, Haldor Topsøe, and others.
Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (Full Document, 1,568 pp, 8.5MB, EPA420-R-04-007, May 2004)
Individual Chapters:
Executive Summary (PDF) (14 pp, 185K)
Chapter 1: Industry Characterization (PDF) (42 pp, 513K)
Chapter 2: Air Quality, Health, and Welfare Effects (PDF) (155 pp, 1MB)
Chapter 3: Emission Inventory (PDF) (105 pp, 450K)
Chapter 4: Technologies and Test Procedures for Low-emission Engines (PDF) (184 pp, 1.3MB)
Chapter 5: Fuel and Standard Feasibility (PDF) (112 pp, 463K)
Chapter 6: Estimated Engine and Equipment Costs (PDF) (98 pp, 421K)
Chapter 7: Estimated Cost of Low-sulfur Fuels (PDF) (220 pp, 1.3MB)
Chapter 8: Estimated Aggregate Cost and Cost Per Ton of Reduced Emissions (PDF) (155 pp, 1MB)
Chapter 9: Cost-Benefit Analysis (PDF) (274 pp, 1.4MB)
Chapter 10: Economic Impact Analysis (PDF) (206 pp, 669K)
Chapter 11: Small Business Fexibility Analysis (PDF) (28 pp, 174K)
Chapter 12: Regulatory Alternatives (PDF) (22 pp, 161K)
source: http://www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel/2004fr.htm
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Technology Alerts
Copyright compliance is always a concern in corporate or academic research. You want to be able to share articles and conference papers with your colleagues. But you don’t want to place your organization in danger of a mulit-million dollar lawsuit.
As a librarian serving the Saudi Aramco enterprise, I faced the same problem. A solution to the problem was to produce a weekly listing of several technical articles of interest to some 100 engineers and scientists throughout the enterprise. Dubbed Technology Alert, it provided a brief description of each article, and served three purposes …
• Awareness … Provided busy researchers with a quick look at articles and other documents of interest
• Copyright Compliance … The description of each item provided enough information for an individual subscriber to decide whether to request a copy of the full document. When I received such a request, I provided the document to the requestor, following copyright guidelines. This avoided the problem of “broadcasting” a document by posting it to a Web site, a clear violation of copyright
• Quality Control … The number of requests for articles described in the weekly alerts provided feedback indicating whether the alerts were providing any value to subscribers. Over time, the feedback guided me in the areas of interest to the subscribing community, improving the value of the alerts
You might suggest a similar service to your corporate librarian, if your management is farsighted enough to employ one.
As a librarian serving the Saudi Aramco enterprise, I faced the same problem. A solution to the problem was to produce a weekly listing of several technical articles of interest to some 100 engineers and scientists throughout the enterprise. Dubbed Technology Alert, it provided a brief description of each article, and served three purposes …
• Awareness … Provided busy researchers with a quick look at articles and other documents of interest
• Copyright Compliance … The description of each item provided enough information for an individual subscriber to decide whether to request a copy of the full document. When I received such a request, I provided the document to the requestor, following copyright guidelines. This avoided the problem of “broadcasting” a document by posting it to a Web site, a clear violation of copyright
• Quality Control … The number of requests for articles described in the weekly alerts provided feedback indicating whether the alerts were providing any value to subscribers. Over time, the feedback guided me in the areas of interest to the subscribing community, improving the value of the alerts
You might suggest a similar service to your corporate librarian, if your management is farsighted enough to employ one.
Nebula
CHAPTER 5: Fuel Standard Feasibility IN: Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (2004) (www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel/2004fr/420r04007f.pdf) is useful for its descriptions of the various desulfurization technologies available as of the time of the document. For example, here is its description of Akzo Nobel’s Nebula …
“In 2001 and 2003, Akzo Nobel announced two new catalysts. In 2001, Akzo announced the introduction of a highly active catalyst named Nebula, which offers a different way to use coatings for catalysts. A typical catalyst is composed of two parts: an active coating containing metals and a generally inactive substrate. For Nebula, Akzo Nobel concentrated the metal coatings and omitted the substrate. Because of the very high metals content, Nebula costs several times more than conventional catalysts. The higher activity of the Nebula catalyst leads to an increased tendency for coking, which must be countered by using a high hydrogen partial pressure, resulting in a higher hydrogen consumption. (The hydrogen consumption is higher because a higher percentage of the aromatics are saturated to nonaromatic compounds.) According to Akzo Nobel, a refiner may be able to meet the 15 ppm sulfur standard by simply replacing a part of or all of its existing catalyst with Nebula and providing significantly more hydrogen (which may possibly require the addition of a hydrogen plant). Nebula may significantly reduce the capital investment for meeting the 15 ppm sulfur standard. In 2003, Akzo announced that Nebula was modified somewhat to contain 15 - 20 percent less metals, but with the same activity as the original Nebula. The updated Nebula catalyst, now called Nebula 20, can better handle heavier feeds.18
“In 2003, Akzo Nobel announced a new catalyst named KF-760. The KF-760 catalyst is a CoMo catalyst designed for better denitrogenation of diesel fuel, in addition to the desulfurization being sought after. Where the nitrogen content is inhibiting the desulfurization of the diesel fuel, this catalyst can have 15 - 20 percent higher activity compared to their previous best, KF-757, with only a modest increase in hydrogen consumption. “
“In 2001 and 2003, Akzo Nobel announced two new catalysts. In 2001, Akzo announced the introduction of a highly active catalyst named Nebula, which offers a different way to use coatings for catalysts. A typical catalyst is composed of two parts: an active coating containing metals and a generally inactive substrate. For Nebula, Akzo Nobel concentrated the metal coatings and omitted the substrate. Because of the very high metals content, Nebula costs several times more than conventional catalysts. The higher activity of the Nebula catalyst leads to an increased tendency for coking, which must be countered by using a high hydrogen partial pressure, resulting in a higher hydrogen consumption. (The hydrogen consumption is higher because a higher percentage of the aromatics are saturated to nonaromatic compounds.) According to Akzo Nobel, a refiner may be able to meet the 15 ppm sulfur standard by simply replacing a part of or all of its existing catalyst with Nebula and providing significantly more hydrogen (which may possibly require the addition of a hydrogen plant). Nebula may significantly reduce the capital investment for meeting the 15 ppm sulfur standard. In 2003, Akzo announced that Nebula was modified somewhat to contain 15 - 20 percent less metals, but with the same activity as the original Nebula. The updated Nebula catalyst, now called Nebula 20, can better handle heavier feeds.18
“In 2003, Akzo Nobel announced a new catalyst named KF-760. The KF-760 catalyst is a CoMo catalyst designed for better denitrogenation of diesel fuel, in addition to the desulfurization being sought after. Where the nitrogen content is inhibiting the desulfurization of the diesel fuel, this catalyst can have 15 - 20 percent higher activity compared to their previous best, KF-757, with only a modest increase in hydrogen consumption. “
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Core Documents
Librarians and independent bibliographic researchers such as myself provide research support for a broad range of clients, each of whom may be pursuing any number of lines of research. Since we can’t be experts in every technology we are asked to research, one of the first things we like to do is to find an article or other document that gives us an overview of a particular area of technology. Reading the document gives us clues as to possible strategies to produce the results our clients expect.
So when I ran across …
CHAPTER 5: Fuel Standard Feasibility IN: Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (2004)
I browsed through it for clues on how to research the deep desulfurization of diesel. Here is a representative paragraph that caught my eye …
“After careful review of all these approaches, we expect that the sulfur reduction required by the 500 ppm sulfur standard will occur through chemical removal via conventional hydrotreating. For complying with the 15 ppm cap for NRLM diesel fuel, we expect it will be met primarily through liquid-phase hydrotreating, which is an emerging advanced desulfurization technology. This section will begin with a relatively detailed discussion of the capabilities of these various processes. Refiners may use the other methods to obtain costeffective sulfur reductions that will complement the primary sulfur reduction achieved via hydrotreating. These other methods, such as FCC feed hydrotreating, adsorption and chemical oxidation are discussed following the primary discussion of distillate hydrotreating and liquidphase hydrotreating. Another means for aiding the desulfurization of diesel fuel, particularly to comply with the 15 ppm standard, is undercutting, which removes the most difficult-to-treat sulfur compounds. Since undercutting can help ease the task of complying with the 15 ppm standard for any of the desulfurization technologies, we provide a discussion of undercutting below.”
This may be old news to you, the primary researcher. However, it may be very helpful to your partner in research, the corporate librarian or the independent bibliographic researcher. If you know of such a document in your area of interest, share it with your research support person.
Read the complete document at:
www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel/2004fr/420r04007f.pdf
So when I ran across …
CHAPTER 5: Fuel Standard Feasibility IN: Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (2004)
I browsed through it for clues on how to research the deep desulfurization of diesel. Here is a representative paragraph that caught my eye …
“After careful review of all these approaches, we expect that the sulfur reduction required by the 500 ppm sulfur standard will occur through chemical removal via conventional hydrotreating. For complying with the 15 ppm cap for NRLM diesel fuel, we expect it will be met primarily through liquid-phase hydrotreating, which is an emerging advanced desulfurization technology. This section will begin with a relatively detailed discussion of the capabilities of these various processes. Refiners may use the other methods to obtain costeffective sulfur reductions that will complement the primary sulfur reduction achieved via hydrotreating. These other methods, such as FCC feed hydrotreating, adsorption and chemical oxidation are discussed following the primary discussion of distillate hydrotreating and liquidphase hydrotreating. Another means for aiding the desulfurization of diesel fuel, particularly to comply with the 15 ppm standard, is undercutting, which removes the most difficult-to-treat sulfur compounds. Since undercutting can help ease the task of complying with the 15 ppm standard for any of the desulfurization technologies, we provide a discussion of undercutting below.”
This may be old news to you, the primary researcher. However, it may be very helpful to your partner in research, the corporate librarian or the independent bibliographic researcher. If you know of such a document in your area of interest, share it with your research support person.
Read the complete document at:
www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel/2004fr/420r04007f.pdf
Friday, July 3, 2009
Prep Your Partners
Searching for SCANfining® turned up this conference preprint, “Advanced Catalyst Technology and Applications for Higher Quality Fuels and Lubes.” One paragraph in particular caught my eye …
“In the development phase, the most viable catalyst is selected and a process initiated to find a cost effective preparation route for the catalyst of choice. We then set a path to scale-up the catalyst, which could include internal manufacture or joint work with a catalyst vendor. Finally, we commercialize the catalyst with the objective to apply it as broadly as possible across our refinery circuit. This feedback loop provides critical performance information about the performance of the catalyst and allows us to further identify and develop next generation catalyst systems.” (Emphasis added)
There, in a nutshell, is the full circle … development, scale-up, commercialization, and feedback. People engage in desulfurization research typically focus on one stage in the cycle. You, the researcher, know which stage you are focusing on.
But your corporate librarian (if you are lucky enough to have one) or your independent research support specialist (like me, for example) may NOT know. We typically provide research support for researchers throughout the cycle.
So, when you make your request for a literature search on a particular topic, let your research support person know which stage of the cycle you are interested in. That will make the search results more relevant to your purpose.
By the way, you can read the complete article referenced above at …
www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/.../49_2_Philadelphia_10-04_1024.pdf
“In the development phase, the most viable catalyst is selected and a process initiated to find a cost effective preparation route for the catalyst of choice. We then set a path to scale-up the catalyst, which could include internal manufacture or joint work with a catalyst vendor. Finally, we commercialize the catalyst with the objective to apply it as broadly as possible across our refinery circuit. This feedback loop provides critical performance information about the performance of the catalyst and allows us to further identify and develop next generation catalyst systems.” (Emphasis added)
There, in a nutshell, is the full circle … development, scale-up, commercialization, and feedback. People engage in desulfurization research typically focus on one stage in the cycle. You, the researcher, know which stage you are focusing on.
But your corporate librarian (if you are lucky enough to have one) or your independent research support specialist (like me, for example) may NOT know. We typically provide research support for researchers throughout the cycle.
So, when you make your request for a literature search on a particular topic, let your research support person know which stage of the cycle you are interested in. That will make the search results more relevant to your purpose.
By the way, you can read the complete article referenced above at …
www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/.../49_2_Philadelphia_10-04_1024.pdf
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