Sulfur in oil can be extracted before use

In contrast to coal, oil is a mixture of molecular substances, a property that allows the sulfur to be removed by chemical treatment before combustion. 

Hydrocracking removes sulfur from petroleum products. It is a catalytic process that involves both hydrogenation and cracking (redistribution of C—C bonds) of hydrocarbons and other components of the crude oil feedstock. Both types of reaction take place at pressures of 100-180 atmospheres and temperatures of 340-400 °C during relatively long contact times (about 1 hour) over solid catalysts. 

Sulfide catalysts, such as nickel, tungsten or molybdenum sulfides, promote hydrogenation across the C—S (and C—N) links in the organic constituents of the oil, so that hydrogen sulfide (and also ammonia) are eliminated by reactions of the type R -S-R2 + 2H2--------------- Ri-H + R2-H + H2S (2.1) 

Such treatment enables the reduction of concentrations of sulfur and nitrogen. Governments are currently (2002) implementing incentives to encourage greater use of low-sulfur fuels. 

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