Sulfur

Crude petroleum is primarily composed of hydrocarbons and other components, including organic and inorganic sulfur-containing compounds. Thus, sulfur is the third most found element in crude petroleum after carbon and hydrogen.

However, it increases metal corrosion in the engine, the fuel system and the after-treatment system; and increases sulfur-oxide emissions. For those reasons, governments limit sulfur content in fuels, including gasoline, through fuel specifications.

To reduce air pollution, South Korea’s government introduced a maximum limit of 10 mg/kg sulfur content in fuels in 2009, under the Clean Air Conservation Act. This maximum sulfur limit remains until today.

SGS Worldwide Fuel Survey results for gasoline samples in 2012-2022 showed full compliance with the maximum sul