Vanadium in residual fuel

Organic vanadium in residual fuel oil is converted to particulate vanadium oxide. Part of the calcium carbonate in the ash fraction of coal is converted to calcium oxide and is emitted to the atmosphere through the stack... 

The presence of vanadium in petroleum crudes is well documented. Much analytical data " have been compiled because the metal brings about unfavorable effects in poisoning cracking and other catalysts in the standard refinery operations. Furthermore, presence of vanadium in residual fuels at high levels results in damage to furnace components. 

The total amount of vanadium in residual fuel oil is probably greater than in any other product of petroleum refining. About 668 million barrels of fuel oil were consumed in the United States in 1968, and this material is estimated to have contained nearly 19,000 tons of vanadium. At the current price, this amount of vanadium is worth about 100 million. Desulfurization of fuel Oil can reduce the vanadium content about proportionate to the reduction of sulfur.If fuel oil is desulfurized to reduce atmospheric pollution, can a significant amount of vanadium be recovered profitably from the catalysts used in the desulfurizing process or at some other stage in this process ... 

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