The Low-Sulfur Unleaded Gasoline Problem

It has been reported that automobile exhaust resulting from gasoline containing sulfur can produce a potentially harmful sulfuric acid mist when passed through an oxidation catalytic converter. In response to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request, the National Petroleum Refiners Association conducted an industry survey to develop information concerning the impact of reducing the sulfur in unleaded gasoline to a maximum of 100 ppm. The survey showed that an estimated 361 new processing units would be needed at a cost of $3.7 billion. It further pointed out that it was probably beyond the capability of the already overloaded engineering/construction industry to complete such facilities within three years.