The Supermini – why 200 W will Assist you to Carry out Accurate, Precise Sulphur Analysis at Low Cost

This benchtop WDXRF, running at a cool 200 W, is exactly what is necessary for those volatile gasoline and diesel samples. The Supermini has adequate power to get really low detection limits, but the sample will not be heated during the analysis cycle by energy generated from the production of high-energy X-rays. Running the sample under helium atmosphere does not cause significant evaporation under these excitation conditions, and the corresponding change in the sample composition does not occur during the analysis time frame.

This also means that the conditions for diffusion of the sample through the thin film membrane are decreased, significantly reducing coating of the “window” with sulphur. Sulphur coating of the sample cell’s polymer window can distort its transmissivity, which can be a significant problem with high-powered WDXRF units. This undesirable effect is greatly reduced with the lower-power Supermini, adding to overall measurement stability and accuracy.

This is truly a case of “less is more.” The consistency of repeatability studies and the tight deviations for reproducibility data testify to the fact that the sample integrity during the analysis is maintained and does not become a major contributing factor to the statistical scatter associated with the analysis of sulphur in these volatile substances.

If high-volume throughput (hundreds of samples per day) is not your primary concern, then this benchtop instrument is a very cost-effective method for getting top-class analytical capability and compliance in a reasonable analysis time (1 – 5 minutes per sample dependant on sulphur concentration) with lower limits of detection around 0 6 – 0.8 ppm for a 100s peak and background measurement. The LLD is matrix dependant.

The Supermini, with its multi-position sample changer and intuitive software, will become a welcome ally in your daily sulphur analysis routine. It can be set up quickly to perform single sample analyses for your most volatile samples and then set up for unattended analysis on more stable samples while the analyst takes care of more labor-intensive analytical tasks.

Results can be sent directly to the Laboratory Information Management system for process control feedback or for reporting purposes. The reliable Rigaku Petro-Pak™ software will ensure that your results are validated and flag any out-ofspecification data that is encountered. The system helps make you more productive and enhances the reliability and speed of your analytical feedback to process control. This gain in efficiency translates directly into bottom-line profits.

The stability of the instrument and its consistent repeatability and reproducibility for these volatile products have enhanced benefits for refinery engineers when it comes to optimising plant conditions. Gains in efficiency can be made by having processes well characterised and in tight control.

The value of the proficiency testing program offered with Petro-Pak means that a periodic independent verification of the components that monitor the plant’s sulphur controls allows the engineers to set optimal process control conditions with a high amount of certainty based on statistical data over time, thereby running the plant as close to ideal conditions as possible. These gains in efficiencies translate into huge cost savings for refineries. In today’s economy, these savings represent the difference between being profitable or running in the red.

For cost-conscious inspectorate laboratories where return on investment is the main driver for purchasing analytical equipment, the Super-mini offers an attractive return ratio. The power and precision of the Supermini, coupled with its low overheads in terms of consumables and power requirements, make it a very cost-effective acquisition. To speed up deployment, the investment made in the ready-for-market Petro-Pak application
package will ensure compliancy and expert method development while the instrument starts earning revenues from its very first day on the bench.

Rigaku is able to provide for your analytical needs by configuring its range of powerful, cost-effective spectrometers with tailored analytical procedures to meet your obligations with respect to providing accurate, precise and
validated data and helping you keep these systems in specification through their proficiency testing partners.