The authors would like to acknowledge support from the Government of Canada's interdepartmental Program of Energy Research and Development, PERD 113, Petroleum Conversion for Cleaner Air. N.E.H would like to acknowledge her Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Visiting Fellowship.

Caution: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) for materials before using. In particular, CS2 is highly flammable and should be stored and handled appropriately. H2S gas is highly toxic, and any containers or gas bags containing H2S should not be opened or handled outside of a properly vented fumehood. Work with crude oil samples should only be done with full personal protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, lab coat, pants and closed-toe shoes), and all crud...

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

In order to achieve optimum measurement of H2S, this method employs a Deans switch, backflushing and a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD). A dimethylpolysiloxane column is used as the first dimension GC column, and serves to retard the movement of heavier hydrocarbons present in the sample so that they do not contaminate the PLOT column. This effect is enhanced by a cool (50 &#176;C) initial separation. Light gases pass through the first dimension column and are captured by the PLOT column during the hear...

Accurate analysis of crude oil is essential for the oil and gas industry, as health and safety regulations and economics are functions of oil quality. In order to protect transporters of crude samples, it is necessary to determine the properties of crude samples to develop safety regulations to be implemented in the event of a release or spill. In particular, quantification of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is important, due to its high toxicity in the gas phase; exposures as low as 100 ppm can be fatal (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7783064.html)1,2. Dissolved H2S in crude samples is generally considered to be corrosive3,4, and can deactivate catalysts used to treat the oil5-7. Removal of H2S from crude oil streams is ideal, but without a method to measure dissolved H2S, it is difficult to assess the success of removal treatments. For these reasons, this protocol was developed to measure dissolved H2S in heavy crude oil samples such as Canadian oil sands crudes.
A number of standard methods exist for quantification of H2S in lighter petroleum or fuel based samples, but none have been validated for use with the heavier crudes commonly extracted from the Canadian oil sands. H2S and mercaptans are determined using a titration technique by Universal Oil Products (UOP) method 1638, but this method suffers from user-interpretation bias that results from manual reading of titration curves. Institute of Petroleum (IP) method 570 uses a specialty H2S analyzer that heats fuel oil samples9, and benefits from simplicity and portability, but lacks accuracy with heavier samples10. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) method D5623 uses gas chromatography (GC) with cryogenic cooling and sulfur selective detection to measure H2S in light petroleum liquids11,12. This standard could be improved to use an ambient separation and also be applied to heavier crude oils, therefore it was used as the basis for the protocol discussed herein.
GC is a heavily used technique for the analysis of petroleum samples. Samples are vaporized in a hot inlet, and separations occur in the gas phase. The gas phase separation makes GC ideal for the analysis of H2S, as it is easily liberated from the liquid sample during heating in the inlet. GC methods can be created and tailored for different samples, depending on the temperature programs used, columns implemented, and the use of multidimensional chromatography13-15. There have been a number of recent developments for the measurement of H2S using GC. Luong et al. demonstrated H2S and other light sulfur compound measurement in light and middle distillates using multidimensional GC and Deans switching, but the method has not yet been applied to heavier crudes16. Di Sanzo et al. also quantified H2S in gasoline using GC, however it also has not been used on heavier crudes, and requires sub-ambient cooling17. The method presented here demonstrates considerable time saving over these previous methods, with a completed analysis time of 5 min, compared to 10 min&#160;(Luong) and 40 min&#160;(Di Sanzo). Unfortunately, implementation of these methods in our lab to compare accuracy was not possible due to equipment and time restrictions.
Multidimensional GC allows the user to exploit the selectivity of two columns, rather than a single column. In conventional GC, separation occurs on one column. In the case of multidimensional GC, the sample is separated on two different columns, enhancing the separation and selectivity. The Deans switch is one device used to employ a two-dimensional column configuration. The switch uses an external valve to direct gas flow from an inlet on the switch to one of two outlet ports18-20. Effluent from the first column can be directed in either direction; in this case, light sulfur gases are &#8220;heart cut&#8221;21 from the first separation to a porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column for secondary separation, which has been shown to be excellent for the separation of H2S from other light sulfur gases (http://www.chem.agilent.com/cag/cabu/pdf/gaspro.pdf)22-24. A sulfur chemiluminescence detector is used for detection, providing selectivity for sulfur compounds and eliminating possible interference from any other light gases that may have been transferred to the PLOT column during the heart cut. Hydrocarbons from the crude oil sample are retained on the first dimension column and are removed during a backflush procedure; this protects the PLOT column from any contamination25-27. This approach has also been successfully implemented for the analysis of oxidation inhibitors in transformer oils28.
Herein, a two-dimensional GC method is employed for the analysis and quantification of dissolved H2S in heavy crude oil samples. The method is shown to be applicable over a wide range of H2S concentrations, and can also be used to measure H2S in gas phase samples.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="700">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Deans switch</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G2855A</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Or equivalent flow switching device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Restrictor tubing&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">160-2615-10</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Fused silica, deactivated, 180 &#181;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">HP-PONA column</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">19091S-001</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">GasPro column</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">113-4332</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Sulfur chemiluminescence detector, 355</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Agilent/Sievers</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G6603A</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">H2S calibration standard, in He</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Air Liquide</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Custom order</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">211 ppm H2S</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">CS2</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C184-500</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Toluene, HPLC grade</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T290-4</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Gas bag, 2 L</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Calibrated Instruments, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">GSB-P/2</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Twist on/off nozzle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">250 &#181;L gas tight syringe</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Hamilton</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">81130</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">500 mL amber glass bottle</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Scientific Specialties</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N73616</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Open top screw caps</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Scientific Specialties</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">169628</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Tegrabond disc for screw caps</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Chromatographic Specialties</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C889125C</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">25 mm, 10/90 MIL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">1 mL gas tight syringe</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Hamilton</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">81330</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">2.5% H2S in He gas standard</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Air Liquide</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Custom order</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

measurement of h2s in crude oil and crude oil headspace using multidimensional gas chromatography, deans switching and sulfur-selective detection

A method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in crude oil samples is demonstrated using gas chromatography. In order to effectively eliminate interferences, a two dimensional column configuration is used, with a Deans switch employed to transfer hydrogen sulfide from the first to the second column (heart-cutting). Liquid crude samples are first separated on a dimethylpolysiloxane column, and light gases are heart-cut and further separated on a bonded porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column that is able to separate hydrogen sulfide from other light sulfur species. Hydrogen sulfide is then detected with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector, adding an additional layer of selectivity. Following separation and detection of hydrogen sulfide, the system is backflushed to remove the high-boiling hydrocarbons present in the crude samples and to preserve chromatographic integrity. Dissolved hydrogen sulfide has been quantified in liquid samples from 1.1 to 500 ppm, demonstrating wide applicability to a range of samples. The method has also been successfully applied for the analysis of gas samples from crude oil headspace and process gas bags, with measurement from 0.7 to 9,700 ppm hydrogen sulfide.

In order to obtain reliable quantification of H2S for both liquid and gas samples, proper calibration is necessary. For calibration injections and sample injections, the H2S peak should not be overlapping with neighboring peaks and should have a reproducible peak area. Figure 3 shows an injection of a gas sample where the gas is too concentrated for this method. It was found that gas concentrations of greater than 500 ppm using a 250 &#181;l syringe overloaded the detector. This iss...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Measurement of H2S in Crude Oil and Crude Oil Headspace Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, Deans Switching and Sulfur-selective Detection at JoVE.com

Measurement of H2S in Crude Oil and Crude Oil Headspace Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, Deans Switching and Sulfur-selective Detection

A multidimensional gas chromatography method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in liquid crude oil samples is presented. A Deans switch is used to heart-cut light sulfur gases for separation on a secondary column and detection on a sulfur chemiluminescence detector.

Measurement of H2S in Crude Oil and Crude Oil Headspace Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, Deans Switching and Sulfur-selective Detection

A method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in crude oil samples is demonstrated using gas chromatography. In order to effectively eliminate ...

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18.9K vistas.  Natural Resources Canada. A multidimensional gas chromatography method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in liquid crude oil samples is presented. A Deans switch is used to heart-cut light sulfur gases for separation on a secondary column and detection on a sulfur chemiluminescence detector. 

Video: Measurement of H2S in Crude Oil and Crude Oil Headspace Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, Deans Switching and Sulfur-selective Detection