Elemental sulfur residues, role

Elemental analysis of fuel oil often plays a more major role that it may appear to do in lower-boiling products. Aromaticity (through the atomic hydrogen/carbon ratio), sulfur content, nitrogen content, oxygen content, and metals content are all important features that can influence the use of residual fuel oil. 

On the other hand, in the acid range of pH (approximately <4) and probably also in the extreme alkaline range (>13.5) where impurities play a role in the hydrogen evolution reaction, differences in manufacture affect the corrosion rate. A relatively pure iron corrodes in acids at a much lower rate than an iron or steel high in residual elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. 

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