Used in research and development as a model compound for studying hydrodesulfurization (HDS) processes in petroleum refining. It represents a highly refractory sulfur compound found in crude oil, making it important for evaluating catalyst efficiency in sulfur removal. Its presence in fuels contributes to sulfur emissions, so removing it is critical for producing ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). Also employed in analytical chemistry as a standard for detecting sulfur species in fuel matrices.