EDXRF Offers Affordable and Reliable Elemental Analysis for Metals in Crude

Monitoring and screening for sulphur, chlorine, vanadium, iron, and nickel is an important factor in determining the quality and value of crude oil. Sulphur in crude is problematic for several reasons — from environmental concerns and refining issues to corrosion in equipment and pipelines. Chlorine can also lead to corrosion damage and the same with iron — it can cause corrosion in piping and equipment, contaminate catalysts, and cause oil to sour. Nickel and vanadium in crudes can also negatively impact the fluid catalytic cracking process. Identifying and managing these elements can help minimize costly repairs and avoid the reduced effectiveness of catalysts. That’s why reliable testing is imperative for processing purposes, contract agreements, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) offers an easy, reliable, and economical analytical technique for crude oil analysis. EDXRF elemental analysers are compact, occupying only a small space in the lab or testing facility, and are more economical than larger, more expensive systems. There is also minimal sample preparation.

When searching for options to meet your needs and budget, consider Rigaku EDXRF products. They provide an unmatched price/performance ratio and offer plenty of flexibility with multi-element analysis capabilities, replacing the need for multiple single-element analysers. Rigaku EDXRF systems provide rapid, non-destructive qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis of sodium to uranium, addressing a wide range of applications for refineries, contract labs, and R&D facilities.

Rigaku EDXRF benchtops include NEX QC Series for routine quality control, NEX DE for more demanding applications, and NEX CG II for complex applications and research. Users can measure sulphur, chlorine, and metals — and with multi-element and multi-purpose capabilities, Rigaku EDXRFs offer exceptional versatility to meet ASTM, EPA, and international compliance. All models have various autosampler options for high-throughput measurements and come installed with intuitive software, saving time and maximising productivity.

NEX QC Series analysers are compact and combine superior performance capabilities with affordability. They are lightweight, portable, and do not require an external PC. The touchscreen interface and built-in printer make them easy to use and convenient. Whether on the plant floor or in remote field environments, they are well-suited for measuring sulphur in oils per ASTM D4294, sulphur in crude and bunker fuel, nickel and vanadium in crudes per ASTM D8252-19 and perform other petroleum-related applications.

NEX DE delivers high-performance results when analysis time or sample throughput is critical. It is ideal for quick ASTM D8252-19 compliance of nickel and vanadium, measuring chlorine per ASTM D4929 Part C, and more. Users can quickly analyze sulphur, vanadium, iron, and nickel in crude, residual oil, bunker fuels, and other heavy hydrocarbon oils.

NEX CG II offers rapid, reliable measuring and monitoring for ultra-low and trace element concentrations up to high weight percent levels. It is an indirect excitation system using secondary targets rather than tube filters, and monochromatic and polarized excitation from secondary targets in full 90° Cartesian Geometry eliminates background noise, delivering exceptionally low detection limits. This unique feature provides excellent performance for ASTM and international compliance for ultra-low sulphur applications and delivers the lowest detection limits for chlorine in crude per ASTM D4929. These superior analytical capabilities make it an attractive instrument for any commercial lab or R&D facility.