SULFUR COMPOUND TYPE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PETROLEUM USING AN IN-LINE REACTOR OR PYROLYSIS COMBINED WITH GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY AND A MICROCOULOMETRIC SULFUR DETECTOR

A rapid method for determination of sulfur compound types in petroleum was developed which involves de-alkylation of the condensed thiophenes using an in-line catalytic reactor or noncatalytic pyrolysis. The resulting reaction products were separated by gas chromatography and the compounds containing sulfur were quantitatively detected with a Dohrmann microcoulometric sulfur detector. Nonthiophenic compounds, primarily aliphatic sulfides, were converted to H2S and detected in the same manner. Precision was 2 to 3% and analysis time was 1 hour. Data agreed very well with high resolution mass spectrometric analysis. Results from use of the method on hydrodesulfurized vacuum gas oils showed that the ease of desulfurization followed the order: benzothiophenes≫dibenzothio-henes>benzonaphthothiophenes. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.