The standard "ASTM D5504-20 Standard Test Method for Determination of Sulfur Compounds in Natural Gas and Gaseous Fuels by Gas Chromatography and Chemiluminescence" published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) describes a test method primarily for the determination of certain volatile sulfur-containing compounds in high-methane gaseous fuels such as natural gas. It has been successfully applied to other gas samples including air, digester, landfill, and refinery fuel gas. The detection range for sulfur compounds reported as picograms of sulfur is 0,01 to 1000. This is equivalent to 1 to 0,01 mg/m1000 based on analysis of a 3 cc sample.
The range of this test method can be extended to higher concentration by dilution or by selecting a smaller sample loop. Dilution reduces method sensitivity.
This test method is not intended to determine all sulfur species in a sample. Only those compounds eluted from the selected column under the selected chromatographic conditions are determined. The detector response to sulfur is equimolar for all sulfur compounds covered by this test method. Thus, unidentified compounds are determined with the same sensitivity as identified substances. Total sulfur content is determined from the sum of the individually quantified components.
Analysis of gaseous sulfur compounds is difficult because of the reactivity of these substances. They are not easy to sample and analyze. Ideally, analysis is performed in situ to eliminate sample degradation as a factor in analysis. Sampling should be done using nonreactive containers such as Silcosteel-lined containers, Tedlar bags with polypropylene fittings, or equivalent. Tedlar bag samples should be protected from light and heat. Laboratory equipment should be inert or passivated to ensure reliable results.
One mL of sample is injected into a gas chromatograph where it is separated into its individual components by passing through a megabore, thick film, methyl silicone liquid phase, open tubular fractionating column, or other suitable column.
As sulfur compounds are eluted from the gas chromatography column, they are processed in a flame ionization detector or heated combustion zone. The products are collected and transferred to a sulfur chemiluminescence detector. This technique provides a sensitive, selective, linear response to volatile sulfur compounds and can be used when collecting hydrocarbon and fixed gas data from a flame ionization detector.
Many natural and petroleum gas sources contain sulfur compounds that are odorous, corrosive, and toxic to catalysts used in gaseous fuel processing. Low ppm amounts of sulfur odorants are added to natural gas and LP gases for safety purposes. Some odorants are unstable and react to form compounds with lower odor thresholds. Quantitative analysis of these odorized gases ensures that odorant injection equipment performs to specification.
Although not intended for application to gases other than natural gas and related fuels, this test method has been successfully applied to fuel-type gases, including refinery, landfill, cogeneration, and sewage digester gas. Refinery, landfill, sewage digester, and other related fuel-type gases contain volatile sulfur compounds that are subject to regulatory requirements. The methane fraction of these fuel-type gases is occasionally sold to natural gas distributors. Therefore, both regulatory agencies and production and distribution facilities require accurate sulfur determinations to meet regulatory, production, or distribution requirements. Fuel gases are also used in power generation or are converted to new products using catalysts that are poisoned by excess sulfur in the feed gas. Industry frequently requires sulfur measurement in these fuel-type gases to protect catalyst investments.
Analytical methods such as gas chromatography (GC) are often used to determine the fixed gas and organic composition of natural gas (for example, the test method described in ASTM D1945-14). Other test methods for the analysis of sulfur in fuel gases include the test methods described in ASTM D1072-23 and D4468-23 for total sulfur and the test methods described in ASTM D4010-83 and ASTM D4884/D4884M-14 for hydrogen sulfide.
Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, it also provides certification and testing services defined in the standard “ASTM D5504-20 Standard test method for the determination of sulfur compounds in natural gas and gaseous fuels by gas chromatography and chemiluminescence” with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
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