Simplified Trace Analysis of Crude Oil by High Resolution ICP-OES - A Case Study

Crude oils contain as many as 45 elements, many of which can have adverse effects on petroleum refining and product quality. These effects can include poisoning of the catalysts used during the refining process or corrosion to the process equipment. The determination and quantification of these trace elements can be particularly challenging because of the high viscosity of many crudes and the presence of large particulates. This requires time-consuming sample preparation, such as ashing and wet acid decomposition, in a business environment in which time is money. This study demonstrates that, with the right instrument, the right sample introduction system, and the right method, all of these challenges can be addressed, while simultaneously reducing sample preparation time by 85%. We will illustrate this in an example of a large refinery which adopted this solution, resulting in a return on investment of under three months. In addition, the web seminar will demonstrate modern ICP-OES technology that is able to avoid soot formation, memory effects, and frequent torch replacement. 

Key learning objectives:

• Impacts of certain undesired elements, frequently present in crude oil, on the refining process and process equipment
• Simplified trace analysis solutions for challenging crude oil samples
• Case study example of a refinery laboratory that adopted this method and increased analysis efficiency significantly
• Presentation of the advantages of High-Resolution ICP-OES for metals analysis in crude oil