Presentation Profile
ICP-OES Solutions for Difficult Organic and Aqueous Sample
Currently Scheduled: 10/15/2019 - 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Room: Floral Hall A2
Main Author
Sabrina Antonio - Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Mike Mourgas - Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Daniel Kutscher - Thermo Fisher Scientific
Abstract:
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is widely used in the petrochemical industry for the analysis of trace elements in upstream, midstream and downstream processes. In the extraction process, trace elements are measured in drilling mud compounds, produced waters and crude oil. In the refining process, the presence of trace metals can cause equipment corrosion and catalyst poisoning, hence, the analysis of elemental contaminants is important to help prevent corrosion of equipment, to confirm the performance of expensive catalysts and ensure the quality and purity of final oil and gas products used in a variety of industries. Furthermore, lubricating oils from large machinery must also be tested for wear metals, contaminants and additive elements as a diagnostic tool to schedule preventive maintenance before lost profits occur due to unscheduled maintenance and downtime. The samples to be tested for trace elements from these processes are considered “difficult” in ICP-OES analysis due to their high levels of salts, suspended solids and carbon and physical properties, such as viscosity and volatility, all of which cause physical, chemical and spectral interferences. Analytical methods must be optimized to tackle these interferences in order to obtain the accurate results as default aqueous methods are not suitable. In this presentation, we will discuss the tools and technologies available to optimize ICP-OES methods for the analysis of difficult petrochemical samples and provide examples on how these tools and technologies were applied for the analysis of high salt samples, lubricating oils and other organic samples.
