Sulfur compounds in the fuel range fractions from different crude oils

A gas chromatograph coupled with sulfur chemiluminscence detector (GC-SCD) has been used for the speciation of individual sulfur compounds in fractions of different crude oils. The crude oil fractions characterized were light naphtha (C5-90 degrees C), heavy naphtha (90-140 degrees C), kerosene (140-240 degrees C), and gas oil (240-370 degrees C) fractions obtained from true boiling point distillation process. Low boiling fractions (up to 140 degrees C) were analyzed by existing ASTM D5623 (American Society for Testing and Materials, 2009a) method for sulfur compound speciation. As there is no standard method for the distribution of sulfur compounds in high boiling samples (up to 370 degrees C), therefore, a methodology has been developed for the diesel range samples. The identification of individual sulfur compounds were carried out by using reference sulfur compounds. The results show that type of sulfur compounds depends upon the boiling range of the fraction and source of crude oil. The major changes in the sulfur compounds profiles of different fractions are discussed. The results of this study can be used to predict the suitability of crude oil for the production of Euro-IV and V gasoline and diesel fuels.