Focus on XRF Technology Table 2. Instrument configurations and analytical sensitivity


Analytical Instrumentation


trations. WDXRF is a highly powerful technique that is suitable for meeting standards such as the new ISO 8217: 2010 and other international standards for sensitivity, range, reliability and reproducibility for heavy fuel oils analysis.


References


1. Heavy Fuel Oils, prepared by CONCAWE’s Petroleum Products and Health Management Groups, Brussels May 1998, HYPERLINK


"http://www.accede.org/prestige/documentos/Tox_fu el_pesado.pdf"


FPC: Flow proportional counter SC: Scintillation counter LOD: Limit of detection


n.m.: not measured; fixed channel not fitted for these elements


Further study results demonstrate that the WDXRF technique delivers extremely stable analytical results over time. Reproducibility over a two month period on a sample containing 2.1 % (2,100 ppm) sulfur is shown in Figure 1. With an average value of 2,102 ppm and standard deviation of 9.5 ppm or 0.44 %, the instrument generated reproducible results over time without the need for recalibration.


http://www.accede.org/prestige/documentos/Tox_fu el_pesado.pdf


Figure 1:


Reproducibility on high sulfur over a two month period Conclusion


Despite occupying the low end of the distillate fuel spectrum, heavy fuel oils must adhere to tight quality restrictions to ensure proper marine engine performance. The low ppm levels of contaminants tolerated by current legislative standards require analysis with excellent sensitivity, yet also analytical flexibility to measure percentage element concen -


2. International Sustainable Energy Exchange, Residual Fuel Oil and Residual Marine Oil (2008)


3. Jones, R.L., US Patent 5312585: Corrosion inhibition in high temperature environment (1993)


4. International Organization for Standardization, ISO 8217:2005 and ISO 8217:2010 Petroleum products - Fuels (class F) - Specifications of marine fuels, HYPERLINK "http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_ics/c atalogue_detail_ics.htm?csnumber=50613" http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_ics/c atalogue_detail_ics.htm?csnumber=50613


27


Ultra Low Sulpur in Oil Analyser Compliant with ISO 20847 and ASTM D-4294


Horiba (France) is proud to release the SLFA 3000 series of ultra low sulphur analyzer for biofuels, gasoline and petroleum products. It is compliant with current recommended methods: ASTM D4294 - 08a Standard Test Method for Sulphur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry and ISO 20847:2004 specifies an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) test method for the determination of the sulfur content of motor gasolines, including those containing up to 2.7% (m/m) oxygen, and of diesel fuels.


With the new analyzer, the typical detection limit is 2 ppm which is much below the lowest regulated content of sulfur (10 ppm). While a good detection limit is very useful, the crucial problem with energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence is the matrix effect. Major developments for the new instrument are automatic matrix corrections with sophisticated algorithms and innovative spectrum analysis. Thanks to these new and unique features, the SLFA 3000 automatically makes matrix corrections for a wide range of sample C/H ratio (from 7 to 9) as well as for oxygen content up to 34 %.


So ultra low detection limits and matrix correction enable these analyzers to be an essential tool for all type of products: From 0 - 10% S in sour crude to sweet crude to


straight run gasoline to reformulated gasoline, and specifically all kind of biofuels. SLFA 3000 is your partner for pipeline, refinery or independent test laboratories with its short measurement times, extremely simple use and accurate, reliable results.


Reader Reply Card No


3rd Generation of Industrial X-ray Diffractometers Offers More Speed, Applications Power and Automation Potential


PANalytical (Netherlands) has launched CubiX3, the 3rd generation of its successful CubiX X-ray powder diffractometers range. Building on the company’s reputation for speed, reliability and reproducible analysis, the CubiX3 introduces new features such as high-intensity data collection as well as extra flexibility in sample handling for automated environments. X-ray diffraction has already reached significant importance as a process and production control method for powdered materials in many industries, including the petrochemical and polymer sectors. Its initial investment is rapidly earned back because of the ease of operation, the independency of operators and the safety for the users, when compared to traditional methods like wet-chemical process control or microscopy methods. The CubiX3 range includes dedicated versions, tailored to the needs of those working in cement, minerals, pharmaceuticals or aluminium production. Dr. Uwe König, Applications Specialist, XRD, highlighted the advantages of XRD analysis with the new CubiX3 range: “X-ray diffraction is recognized as the most efficient method of obtaining direct phase information for many types of materials. Results enable manufacturers to maintain consistency in the quality of their product while optimizing production speeds. CubiX3 is the fastest, most flexible and most accurate diffractometer available for production control. It yields a complete diffraction pattern up to 150 times faster than conventional detection technology”. PANalytical was the first X-ray solutions provider to bring ‘walk-up’ functionality to its line of XRPD systems. The Walk-Up software available for CubiX3 enables a user with no knowledge of XRD to enter urgent samples at any time, even if the diffractometer is already processing a routine batch; and automatically receive a report of results with no user input to the analysis. The Walk-Up / CubiX3 combination provides the perfect analysis tool for multi-user environments. The CubiX3 supports the full analytical X-ray powder analysis methodology from classical data analysis up to full pattern cluster analysis for statistical data interpretation and pass/fail determination.


Reader Reply Card No 78


Replace Dangerous Radioisotope Based Sulphur Gauges with NEX XT Process Sulphur Analyser


Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. (USA) is pleased to introduce the new Rigaku NEX XT on-line sulfur. This product represents the next generation of process gauge for high-level sulphur measurement (0.02% to 6% S) of crude, bunker fuel, fuel oils, and other highly viscous hydrocarbons, including residuums.


This versatile, compact and robust X-Ray Transmission


(XRT) process gauge is specifically optimized for the sulphur analysis needs of refineries, pipelines, blending operations, bunkering terminals and other storage facilities. Applications include bunker fuel blending to meet MARPOL Annex VI sulphur restrictions, interface detection of different grade fuels delivered via pipelines, refinery feedstock blending and monitoring, and the quality monitoring of crude at remote collection and storage facilities.


The new Rigaku NEX XT system is faster, more sensitive and far more compact than competitive systems and provides continuous, reliable detection of sulphur at pressures up to 1480 psig and 200ºC.


The NEX XT can operate as a stand-alone analyser or provide real time closed loop control when tied into a blending or plant wide automation system. Based on the X-ray Transmission (XRT) measurement technique, the hydrocarbon stream travels through a flow cell where the sample is illuminated using a safe low power X-ray tube. A detector on the opposite side of the flow cell measures transmitted X-rays. Signal intensity is inversely proportional to the sulfur concentration. The system contains no radioisotope sources and requires no routine maintenance.


Among its other key features are a simplified user interface, reduced standards requirement, automatic density compensation, automatic water compensation, password protection, and standard platform for communicating sulfur, density, and water content to a plant-wide DCS. Due to its unique design and robust construction, sample conditioning and recovery systems are typically not required.


Reader Reply Card No 79 June/July 2010 77


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52