emissions from the refinery decrease, the sulfur produced as a product increases.
In most countries today, over half of the required sulfur is produced from the
petroleum and gas industries. Sulfur is stored and transported from the refinery as
a molten product or as solid sulfur. Almost half the world’s sulfur production is
used in making sulfuric acid and phosphate fertilizers using the sulfuric acid
produced from the sulfur. A typical specification for sulfur is given in Table 12.
Description of Some of the More Common Tests
The tests described here are usually carried out in the refinery laboratory. The
results from these tests are used in plant control and for the quality control of
finished products. There are many more laboratory and other tests that are carried
out in the refinery company’s research and development establishment. These later
tests are carried out to improve product quality parameters or to establish design
data for processes and development work. These later tests would include mass
spectrometry for crude oil data and assay development, pilot plant tests to establish
optimum operating data, and items such as motor vehicle road tests. Those tests
described briefly in the following sections are those listed earlier.
Specific Gravity (D1298)
Density ASTM D1298 – Density, relative density (specific gravity), or API gravity
of crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products by the hydrometer method. Fuel
is transferred to a cylindrical container and a hydrometer is carefully lowered into
the cylinder and allowed to settle. After the temperature of the sample has equilibrated, the value on the hydrometer scale positioned at the surface of the sample
and the sample temperature are recorded. The hydrometer value is converted to
density at 15.6
C or API gravity at 60
F using standard tables. The API gravity
which is always quoted in degrees API can be calculated from the hydrometer test at
60
F using the equation as follows:
Specific Gravity ¼
141:5
131:5 þ API
Table 12 Typical
specifications for sulfur
Purity
99.8 wt% sulfur, on a dry basis
Ash
500 ppm by weight maximum
Carbon
1,000 ppm by weight maximum
Color
Bright yellow
Hydrogen
sulfide
10 ppm by weight maximum. This is particularly
important for international transport and sales
State
Shipped either liquid or solid
662
D.S.J. Jones
In most countries today, over half of the required sulfur is produced from the
petroleum and gas industries. Sulfur is stored and transported from the refinery as
a molten product or as solid sulfur. Almost half the world’s sulfur production is
used in making sulfuric acid and phosphate fertilizers using the sulfuric acid
produced from the sulfur. A typical specification for sulfur is given in Table 12.
Description of Some of the More Common Tests
The tests described here are usually carried out in the refinery laboratory. The
results from these tests are used in plant control and for the quality control of
finished products. There are many more laboratory and other tests that are carried
out in the refinery company’s research and development establishment. These later
tests are carried out to improve product quality parameters or to establish design
data for processes and development work. These later tests would include mass
spectrometry for crude oil data and assay development, pilot plant tests to establish
optimum operating data, and items such as motor vehicle road tests. Those tests
described briefly in the following sections are those listed earlier.
Specific Gravity (D1298)
Density ASTM D1298 – Density, relative density (specific gravity), or API gravity
of crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products by the hydrometer method. Fuel
is transferred to a cylindrical container and a hydrometer is carefully lowered into
the cylinder and allowed to settle. After the temperature of the sample has equilibrated, the value on the hydrometer scale positioned at the surface of the sample
and the sample temperature are recorded. The hydrometer value is converted to
density at 15.6
C or API gravity at 60
F using standard tables. The API gravity
which is always quoted in degrees API can be calculated from the hydrometer test at
60
F using the equation as follows:
Specific Gravity ¼
141:5
131:5 þ API
Table 12 Typical
specifications for sulfur
Purity
99.8 wt% sulfur, on a dry basis
Ash
500 ppm by weight maximum
Carbon
1,000 ppm by weight maximum
Color
Bright yellow
Hydrogen
sulfide
10 ppm by weight maximum. This is particularly
important for international transport and sales
State
Shipped either liquid or solid
662
D.S.J. Jones