Abstract
The state of the problem of the isolation, separation, and characterisation of the heteroatomic compounds of petroleum is examined and current data on the chromatographic and mass-spectrometric characteristics of organosulphur compounds in petroleum and petroleum products are surveyed. The results obtained in studies on the composition and structures of sulphides and thiophens in distillates and residual petroleum fractions are listed and the fundamental data on the oxidation of middle petroleum fraction sulphides to sulphoxides and sulphones and on the pathways followed in their further chemical transformation are compiled. Certain aspects of the utilisation of petroleum sulphides and sulphoxides in the national economy are considered.
The bibliography includes 210 references.