Previously we pointed out the the need or having a reliable method for the measurement of total chloride in petroleum crude. This information can act as primary indication of corrosivity at the refining facilities during different operations such as crude distillation (tower overhead systems. Refineries spent millions of dollars annually in corrosion mitigation. There are different standard methods as well as a portfolio of analytical techniques to quantify chloride in crude: combustion with micro coulometric detection, Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (MWDXRF), Combustion Ion chromatography (CIC), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) as well as Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) are considered the primary techniques. Out of all the analytical techniques that are currently used for total chloride analysis in crude oil, MWDXRF is one of the fastest and the least labor intensive. However, we have found that regardless of the detection technique, the type of samples has in great extension a considerable impact on the quantification. Understanding the sample is the key to obtaining the most accurate result. In most cases, crude oil is not homogenous and it can be difficult in obtaining a representative sample both at the source and at the analysis. Our goal was to understand the challenges associated with the homogeneity of the sample the total quantitation chloride in petroleum crudes samples by using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, (XOS’s, Clora®) coupled with an continuous flow system (Accu-flow), that allows of having a total of 50 mL of sample being pushed through a cup, that is exposed to the X-Rays, at a constant rate over 5 minutes. Figure of merits by using this configuration will be presenting as well as data comparison with other detection techniques such as Combustion Ion chromatography (CIC), Monochromatic Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (MWDXRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS, single quadrupole and triple quadrupole).

Chloride analysis in petroleum crude samples part 2: Sample homogeneity impact on the analysis

255th National Meeting (2018)

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