X-Ray Determination of Sulfur in Oils. Comparison of X-Ray Emission and Absorption Methods

Abstract

In the evaluation of catalysts for removing sulfur from petroleum products, rapid methods for determining sulfur are desired. The x-ray emission (fluorescence) spectrograph and the iron-55 K-capture x-ray absorption apparatus were tested and compared. The methods were found to have nearly the same accuracy, precision, and rapidity.

X-Ray Absorption and Emission

“…113. 161 91,166) Silicon ( I S , l4, 56,68,113,198) Silver (55, 91) Strontium (3, 55, &, 159,176,219) Sulfur (SO, 61,75,113,160,161,216) Tantalum (45,100,1401 151,159,213) Tellurium (166) Thorium (22, 45,46,100,115,141,Tin (16,64,68,91,166,211) Titanium (56,64,87,100,105,151,159,195) 818)…”

“…Doughman, Sullivan, and Hirt (75) have compared x-ray emission spectrography with absorptiometry for the determination of sulfur in oils. The absorptiometric method, based upon the use of iron-55 as a K-capture source according to Hughes and Wilczewski (129), proved superior in requiring a lower capital investment and less operator training and skill.…”

“…In semiquantitative work (about ± 10% of the amount present), scanning is restricted to the region of the analytical line. Mercury (177) Molybdenum ( Palladium (93) Phosphorus (13, 14, 113,161) Platinum (93,181) Plutonium (86,117,204) Potassium ( 61,75,113,160,161,216) Tantalum (45,100,140,151,159,213) Tellurium (166) Thorium (22,45,46,100,115,141,142,159,195) Tin (16,64,68,91,166,211) Titanium (56,64,87,100,105,151,197,218) Tungsten (68,81,170,…”