This page creation was supported with funds from the Wilson Education Grant Award from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The intention is to provide students a better understanding of chemical structures related to Fuel and Energy issues. If you have suggestions for other structures please email them to me and please fill out the evaluation form.

Metals in Oil


Metals such as vanadium, and nickel are present in oils at low levels but they are important contaminants. Nitrogen as shown is blue, double bonds are not indicated. This is an example of a porphrin ring a biomarker in oil. The metal sits in the central location of the rings. If catalytic cracking of an oil is performed it is important to remove these metals as they poison the catalyst. Vanadium can be recovered from the ash or flue gas when high vanadium containing oils are combusted. The vanadium can then be sold to the metals industry for use in steel generation.

 

Greenhouse Gases

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