Determination Methods for Sulfur Content in Petroleum Products

Determination Methods for Sulfur Content in Petroleum Products

Petroleum products refer to a general term for various products with specific physical and chemical properties and clear application scenarios. They are produced using crude oil, natural gas, and their associated minerals as core raw materials through a series of processes, including exploration and extraction, refining and processing, and chemical conversion. Petroleum products are not a single substance but a product system with an extremely wide coverage and a great variety of types. They are indispensable basic materials in the fields of modern industry, transportation, energy supply, and daily life.

Purpose of the Experiment：

Evaluation of Environmental Performance: Sulfur content is a key indicator for measuring the environmental performance of petroleum products. Accurate measurement of sulfur content ensures that petroleum products comply with environmental regulatory requirements and reduces environmental harm.

Ensuring Equipment Safety and Petroleum Product Quality: Sulfur and its compounds can corrode petroleum processing equipment and engine components, and degrade the performance of petroleum products. By determining sulfur content, the quality of petroleum products can be controlled, and equipment corrosion and performance degradation caused by excessively high sulfur content can be avoided.

Meeting Regulatory and Standard Requirements: The purpose of the experiment is to provide accurate and reliable testing data, ensuring that petroleum products meet national standards and international environmental protection requirements.

Supporting the Development of Green Energy: Through accurate sulfur content analysis, technical support is provided to oil refining enterprises, petroleum product distributors, and other entities, promoting the development of green energy and environmental protection.

Experimental Instruments & Samples：

Experimental Samples：Petroleum Products

Experimental Instrument：SH407 X-ray fluorescence sulfur analyzer

,Complying with the standard ASTM D4294.

Testing method：

1. Instrument Preparation:

Place the tube furnace sulfur content analyzer in a well-ventilated and dust-free environment, and ensure a stable power connection.In accordance with standard requirements, set the tube furnace temperature to 900℃～950℃ and adjust the air flow rate to the specified value.

2. Sample Preparation:

Accurately measure the sample using a syringe (volumetric method) or weighing method (gravimetric method). Ensure the sample amount is appropriate to avoid excessive combustion.Inject the sample into the combustion boat, taking care to prevent spillage, then quickly place the combustion boat into the inlet section of the tube furnace.

3. Combustion and Absorption:

Close the furnace door and start the instrument. The sample burns under high-temperature and oxygen-rich conditions, and sulfides are converted into sulfur dioxide (SO₂).The generated SO₂ is introduced into the absorption device by a suction filter pump, and absorbed by an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) — during this process, SO₂ is oxidized to sulfuric acid.

4. Titration and Calculation:

Titrate the sulfuric acid in the absorption solution with a standard sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, and record the volume of NaOH consumed.Result Calculation: Calculate the sulfur content (mass percentage) in the sample using the titration data and the specified formula.

Experimental Results

In this experiment, the average sulfur content of the diesel sample is determined to be 0.0299%. The measurable range of sulfur content covers 0.015% ~ 5.00%, and the experimental result meets the standard requirements.