Determination of Phosphorus in Crude Oil and Middle Distillate Petroleum Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry

ABSTRACT

A method for the precise and accurate determination of phosphorus in crude oil and middle distillate petroleum products was developed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry to rapidly determine phosphorus as a control method. The presence of phosphorus is undesirable in petrochemical products as it complexes with other metals generating residues that interrupt normal operation of refineries. The presence of phosphorus may be due to some anti-fouling additives or the crude oils processed. Consequently, it is necessary to control the phosphorus present at trace levels in the crude oil and in process streams that present various densities and viscosities. The instrumental power, nebulizer flow, pump rate, read time, and the sample preparation conditions were optimized. The desired level of quantification for the petrochemical industry was achieved allowing the simultaneous analysis of diverse liquid petroleum products.

KEYWORDS:

• American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity
• inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES)
• petroleum products
• phosphorus
• specific gravity (SG)

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) under the Research, Development and Innovation programme, through project IMAMCA/2015/1, through the European Regional Development Fund. The authors would also like to thank Ricardo Sales from BP OIL Castellón for supplying the crude oil and middle distillate petroleum products used in the development of the present study.