Liange O. Diehl

Chloride determination by ion chromatography in petroleum coke after digestion by microwave-induced combustion

Microwave-induced combustion was applied to petroleum coke digestion in closed vessels for further chloride determination by ion chromatography. Samples were pressed as pellets and placed on a quartz holder. Combustion was performed using oxygen pressure of 2 MPa and 50 microl of 6 moll(-1) NH(4)NO(3) as aid for ignition. Recoveries from 97 to 102% were obtained for all studied absorbing solutions (water, H(2)O(2), Na(2)CO(3) or (NH(4))(2)CO(3)). Accuracy was evaluated using certified reference materials with agreement better than 98% using water as absorbing solution with reflux step. The limit of quantification was 3.8 microg g(-1).

Microwave-induced combustion of carbon nanotubes for further halogen determination

A procedure for single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes digestion by microwave-induced combustion (MIC) is proposed for the first time for further halogens (Cl, Br and I) determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and ion chromatography (F, C, Br and I). Samples of carbon nanotubes (up to 500 mg) were pressed as pellets and combusted using 20 bar of oxygen and 50 μl of 6 mol l−1 of ammonium nitrate as igniter. The following absorbing solutions were evaluated: H2O, (NH4)2CO3, NH4OH, tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and water-soluble tertiary amines (CFA-C). A reflux step was applied after combustion (5 min of microwave irradiation at 1400 W) in order to achieve better analyte recoveries. For Cl determination by ICPMS, a dynamic reaction cell was used with ammonia as reaction gas. The accuracy was evaluated using certified reference materials (CRM) of coal, spiked samples and also by comparison of results with neutron activation analysis. In spite of 1% (v/v) of TMAH or CFA-C being used as absorbing solution, 100 mmol l−1 NH4OH was preferred in view of lower blank values and quantitative recoveries (better than 97%). Agreement with CRM values for NIST 1632b, NIST 1632c and SARM 19 was higher than 96% for Cl and Br (ICPMS) and for F (IC). The limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) for Cl, Br and I obtained by ICPMS was 1.3, 0.02 and 0.002 μg g−1, respectively. The LOD for F, Cl, Br and I determined by IC was 0.3, 1.1, 2.4 and 4.2 μg g−1, respectively. The residual carbon content for MIC digests was always below 1%. As an advantage over conventional procedures, using MIC it was possible to digest up to eight samples in only 25 min, obtaining a single solution suitable for determination of all halogens by different techniques. According to the authors’ knowledge this is the first application for halogen determination in this kind of material.

Feasibility of low frequency ultrasound for water removal from crude oil emulsions.

The feasibility of indirect application of low frequency ultrasound for demulsification of crude oil was investigated without using chemical demulsifiers. Experiments were performed in an ultrasonic bath with frequency of 35 kHz. Synthetic emulsions with water content of 12%, 35% and 50% and median of droplet size distribution (DSD), median D(0.5), of 5, 10 and 25 μm were prepared from crude oil with API density of 19 (heavy crude oil) and submitted to the proposed ultrasound-assisted demulsification procedure. Experimental conditions as temperature, time of exposition to ultrasound and ultrasonic power were evaluated. Separation of water from crude oil emulsion was observed for all emulsions investigated. Demulsification efficiency up to 65% was obtained for emulsion with 50% of water content and DSD of 10 μm. Higher efficiency of demulsification was achieved using US temperature of 45 °C and ultrasound power of 160 W by 15 min. Results obtained in this study showed that ultrasound could be considered a promising technology for industrial crude oil treatment and respective water removal.

Separation of Heavy Crude Oil Emulsions Using Microwave Radiation for Further Crude Oil Analysis

Microwave radiation in closed vessels was used for the separation of heavy crude oil emulsions for further oil characterization. Operational conditions were studied and the following parameters were evaluated: water content, density, viscosity, N, S, V, Ni, and Cl. Using the proposed procedure it was possible to reduce the water and Cl content in crude oil to values lower than 1% and 300 µg g−1, respectively. It was possible to determine important crude oil properties without interferences caused by excessive water and salt concentrations. The proposed procedure is relatively fast and it was possible to obtain a suitable condition for water and salt removal from heavy crude oil emulsions without using demulsifiers or toxic reagents.

Alternative Igniters Based on Oxidant Salts for Microwave-Induced Combustion Method

In this work, solutions of oxidant salts were evaluated as alternative to nitrate solution for the ignition step in microwave-induced combustion (MIC) method. Aqueous solutions of KClO4, K2Cr2O7, KMnO4 and K2S2O8 in several concentrations were evaluated and it was observed that the ignition was dependent on the concentration and type of igniter solution. Moreover, it was possible to observe that ignition and combustion times are not related with sample mass, which was confirmed by evaluating sample masses ranging from 100 to 500 mg of whole milk powder. Certified reference materials were digested using K2Cr2O7 as igniter solution and digests analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), with good agreement to certified values. The obtained results suggest that MIC can be performed using solutions of oxidants salts. In addition, the proposed study contributed to a better undestanding and explaining the ignition with microwaves.

Sediment removal from crude oil emulsion using microwave radiation

Microwave radiation in closed vessels was applied for removal of sediments from crude oil allowing the subsequent crude oil characterization in laboratory. Heating time and microwave power were evaluated in the range of 5 to 30 s and 300 to 1400 W, respectively. Sediment content was determined using the method recommended by ASTM D 4807-05 based on a filtration step in a membrane before and after sediment removal. Water and chloride contents were determined in the oil phase obtained after sediment removal. Up to eight samples of 20 g of crude oil could be simultaneously processed. Sediment removal efficiency was better than 95%. It was possible to obtain crude oil in a suitable condition for determination of routine parameters as API gravity, density, viscosity and total acid number without interferences caused by sediments or even water and salt.