Intertek laboratories measure and characterize total sulfur content, elemental sulfur/sulphur and identify sulfur species to trace levels. Intertek laboratories test materials and products for sulfur and sulfur species such as mercaptans. The labs test for sulfur in crude oil, petroleum, petroleum refined products such as fuels and petrochemicals, natural gas, polymers and many other samples. Sulphur species are detected and measured to trace levels.

Sulfur is present in crude oil as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), elemental sulfur and various sulfur compounds including a diverse range of mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, refractory sulfur compounds, sterically hindered dibenzothiophenes, polycyclic aromatics, and thiophenes.

Analytical techniques used for sulfur, sulphur speciation analysis include Chemiluminesence, Gas Chromatography, GC/MS, GC/AED and GC/ICP/MS. Intertek also tests for detection of sulfur species present in many other products, contact Intertek for more information.

Analysis of sulfur compounds in crude oil, refinery process units and in final petroleum products is needed in order to avoid refining and regulatory problems associated with high sulfur content. Petroleum refinery catalytic hydrotreating processes such as hydrodesulfurization remove sulfur compounds from refinery product streams. Sweetening processes remove sulfur compounds or convert them to disulfides, as in the case of mercaptans.

Sulfur (Sulphur) compounds detected include, but are not limited to, the following sulfur species: