Natural gas and other gaseous fuels naturally contain varying amounts and classes of sulfur compounds, which can be odorous, corrosive to equipment, and inhibit or destroy catalysts used in gas processing. Even trace amounts of sulfur can be destructive to processing. Sulfur is also added in small amounts, 1 to 4 ppmv, to natural gas and other petroleum products for safety purposes. Accurate identification and measurement of sulfur species is critical in the petroleum industry, however, the analysis can be challenging due to the reactivity and instability of sulfur compounds during sampling and analysis. The Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD) has advantages over other sulfur detectors such as unambiguous sulfur detection and selectivity against hydrocarbon matrices, increased sensitivity, and equimolar sulfur response. This application note will describe the analysis of sulfur in various matrices using a PerkinElmer Clarus® 590 GC coupled with an OI Analytical Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD).

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5383 Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD)

The Model 5383 Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD) uses superior sensitivity and increased selectivity to easily and accurately analyze sulfur, phosphorus, and 26 other elements.

The superior sensitivity of the 5383 PFPD makes it the instrument of choice for the analysis of sulfur, phosphorus, and other elements. Its linear, equimolar response to sulfur allows selective measurement of individual sulfur species from low ppb to ppm levels, and total sulfur as the sum of individual peaks. The unique capability to obtain simultaneous sulfur and hydrocarbon chromatograms from a single PFPD detector sets it apart from other sulfur detection technologies.

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