Fuels Technical Information

The most common metal in the fuel is vanadium. Possible contamination from external sources include aluminium and silicon from catalyst fines, sodium from sea water, iron oxides in the form of rust scale, used lubricating oil, sand and dirt.

The ash constituents from the crude oil are concentrated in the residual fuel and this concentration depends upon the refinery processes employed. For distillate fuels the ash level, which is defined as the residue after all the combustible components have been burned, is negligible.

The actual level of the ash being dependent on the total elemental composition of the fuel and the components and concentration of the waste material.