New Application Note for Analysis of ULSD per ISO 13032

Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. (USA) have published a new application report that details the measurement of sulphur in ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) using the new Rigaku NEX QC+ high resolution benchtop EDXRF analyser. The analysis detailed in Rigaku Application Note 1272 complies with standard test method ISO 13032. This International Standard specifies an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) test method for the determination of sulphur content in automotive gasoline.

Regulations around the world have limited the amount of sulphur in various fuels oils, with particular attention to diesel fuel. For many years, road diesel has been limited to a maximum sulphur concentration between 10-15 ppm, depending on the region. These limits have now been expanded to all diesel fuels, including those used in large and off-road diesel engines.

The new application note covers sample preparation, method calibration and repeatability, and demonstrates that low concentration sulphur in petroleum-based fuel can be routinely analysed with excellent accuracy, sensitivity and repeatability using a benchtop EDXRF spectrometer.

For this application, an empirical calibration was built using a suite of 6 certified diesel calibration standards. Instrument precision was determined by ten repeat analyses of a sample in a static position using a 300 sec analysis time. Measurements were carried out using the NEX QC+ high resolution EDXRF spectrometer.

The results shown in the report demonstrate the excellent performance of the Rigaku NEX QC+ EDXRF
analyser for the measurement of ULSD, in compliance with standard test method ISO 13032. The versatility of the NEX QC+ also makes it an ideal tool for the measurement of many other elements and oil matrices, such as lube oils, wear metals in oils, used oil and waste oil, as well as for other elemental analysis needs throughout the petroleum industry.