The global refining industry has several difficult challenges:crude oils are getting heavier and more contaminated while the demand and quality of light products,i.e.,transportation fuels,are becoming increasingly cleaner.These two facts are in conflict;the refining industry must invest heavily to convert heavy feedstocks into cleaner light products while improving their quality to satisfy progressively more severe environmental regulations.Conversion technologies have been developed to meet these refining challenges.However,the zero-residue production still remains an unobtainable target.Conversion,even in its most advanced and cosdy form,leaves the refiner with a residual bottom product reduced in volume but more contaminated with sculpture and metals-thus,more difficult to dispose of.
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