Page 20 - Shimadzu Journal vol.8 Issue2

Dark, particulate-laden exhaust from a seagoing vessel.

Hydrocarbon Processing Industry

Analysis of Sulfur in Fuels by

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

(EDXRF)

—Compliance with New International Standards

Andrew Fornadel PhD, Joel Langford PhD, and Jon Peters / Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, USA

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Abstract The sulfur content of hydrocarbon fuels is regulated to limit natural volcanic processes . To limit anthropogenic SOx discharge
atmospheric emission of sulfur oxides (SOx), which can cause negative into the atmosphere, various organizations and governments have
health and environmental impacts. In 2020, new regulations from the
imposed increasingly strict limits on the sulfur content of fuels.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) went into effect that restrict
the acceptable sulfur concentration in marine fuel oil to a maximum of
0.5% (m/m). A Shimadzu EDX-7000 Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence Although many developed nations have set stringent sulfur con-
spectroscopy (EDXRF) was used to establish compliance with common
tent regulations for common motor fuels such as gasoline and
standard test methods, ASTM D4294 and ISO 8754, and to analyze
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a sample of marine fuel oil. The successful evaluation of the EDX-7000 diesel , fuel used for commercial shipping has historically allowed
demonstrates its functionality for assessing the sulfur content of heavy comparatively high sulfur concentration. The fuel used in seago-
hydrocarbon distillates and compliance with the new IMO 2020 regulations.
ing ships, commonly called fuel oil, residual fuel oil, or bunker
fuel, is comprised of residual hydrocarbons that remain after the
distillation of lighter gasoline and diesel fractions. Fuel oils are
Introduction commonly dark black in color, very viscous, and can contain up
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to C70 hydrocarbons . These properties make its use difficult in
The sulfur content of fuels is regulated to reduce atmospheric emis- conventional internal combustion engines. Though the use of these
sions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and other sulfur oxides, collectively re- fuels is cost-effective for maritime shipping, their environmental
ferred to as SOx, during combustion of the fuel . Atmospheric SOx and health impacts have not gone unnoticed. Corbett et al. (2007)
1
and related particulate matter (PM) have wide-ranging negative estimate 60,000 annual global deaths can be attributed to excess
health effects, particularly impacting the respiratory system as well atmospheric particulate matter associated with shipping activity .
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as contributing to the formation of acid rain and smog (e.g., refs. 2
& 3). The primary sources of SOx in the atmosphere is from sulfur Beginning on January 1 , 2020, the International Maritime
st
contained in fossil fuels that are burned for power generation and Organization’s (IMO) has established a new regulation limiting the
transportation, bacterial reduction of sulfate to H2S during decompo- content of sulfur in fuel oil at 0.50% (m/m) (5000 ppm), reduced
sition, aerosolization of seawater sulfate, and as gases emitted during from the previous 3.50% (m/m) limit . There are even stricter limits
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