Determination of trace amounts of sulfur in hydrotreated naphthas : comparative study using Raney nickel, Houston Atlas and gas chromatographic methods

Raney nickel, Houston Atlas and gas chromatographic–flame photometric detection (GC–FPD) methods were applied to the determination of trace amounts of sulfur in naphthas. The parameters investigated included the linearity, detection limits and the repeatability of the data. The analysis times were 2.0 h, 10 min and 30 min while the detection limits were 0.1 ppm, < 20 ppb and 20 ppb, respectively. These methods offer the determination of trace amounts of sulfur in the ranges 0.1–200 ppm (Raney nickel), 20 ppb–500 ppm (Houston Atlas) and 20 ppb–low per cent. (GC–FPD). The repeatability of the methods was determined at sulfur concentrations below 1.0 ppm.