DETERMINATION OF ZINC BY FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY IN UNBURNED AND BURNED VENEZUELAN CRUDE OIL^*

Abstract

The concentration of zinc in unburned and burned Venezuelan crude oil over the temperature range of 25–1000°C was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The zinc concentration in the unburned crude oil was found to be approximately one part per million and remained relatively constant until around 700°C. At temperatures in excess of 800°C, all the zinc was removed from the crude oil. This suggests that if the temperature in burning crude oil can exceed the boiling points of the metals or metal form, then they will be removed via smoke into the atmosphere.

^*Presented, in part, at Pittcon 2000, in New Orleans, LA, March 12–17, 2000.

Keywords:

• Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
• Zinc
• Unburned and burned crude oil

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported, in part, by the Shearman Research Fund from McNeeese State University for 1999–2000.

Notes

^*Presented, in part, at Pittcon 2000, in New Orleans, LA, March 12–17, 2000.