Héctor

I am sorry I do not have the exact reference to
hand but there used to be the very old standard
ASTM method for analysis of S in crude oil
(before XRF was invented).  It involved
combustion of the oil under high oxygen pressure
in a bomb calorimeter apparatus in which there
was also (I think) sodium carbonate solution.  In
the original method the resulting sulfate was
precipitated as barium sulfate, dried and weighed
for total sulfur estimation but we also used it
for isotopic analysis.

Be aware though that the bombs are expensive and need regular safety testing.

Does anyone have a copy of the method they can
send to Héctor?  Especially Pier - do you have
reference to this or an alternative method in
your book?

Max

>Dear all
>
>I have a batch preparation line of S02 from sulphates and sulphides for MS
>determination of the 34S/32S ratio.
>Our lab is now engaged with the measurement of isotope ratio of sulphur in
>oil, and all the references I have found are related to GC-IRMS.  I like to
>know if somebody can provide me any reference (or better a paper) where it
>is described how to separate the total suphur from an oil matrix in form of
>an inorganic salt or compound.
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Héctor O. Panarello
>Director
>INSTITUTO DE GEOCRONOLOGÍA Y GEOLOGÍA ISOTÓPICA (INGEIS)
>Pabellón INGEIS - Ciudad Universitaria
>1428 Ciudad de Buenos Aires
>Tel: +54-11-4784 7798
>Fax  +54-11-47833024


--
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Any opinions are mine and may not reflect policy of NASA, Caltech or JPL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max Coleman
Director, Center for Life Detection & Lead
Scientist, Astrobiology Research Group
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech
M/S 183-301
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109, USA

ph: (818) 393-6353
fx: (818) 393-4445
ph: (818) 687-7704 (cell)

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