The ASTM Copper Strip Corrosion Test: Application to Propane with Carbonyl Sulfide and Hydrogen Sulfide

Published

January 1, 2003

Author(s)

W C. Andersen, Ilmutdin Abdulagatov, Thomas J. Bruno

Abstract

Carbonyl sulfide (COS), which occurs as an impurity in commercial sources of propane, can hydrolyze in the presence of water to form hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2). All commercial and HD-5 grade propane isrequired to pass the ASTM copper strip corrosion test. While it is known that hydrogen sulfide will cause the failure of the copper strip test, it is widely believed that the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide can also cause the failure of the corrosion test. We have tested gravimetrically prepared mixtures of COS and H2S in pure and commercial grade propane with a variant of the ASTM copper strip corrosion test. Minor changes to the published ASTM corrosion test were implemented for diagnostic purposes in making the measurements. Surprisingly, mixtures containing as much as 1 000 ppm (mass/mass) COS did not cause a failure of the test, even when the copper strip was in contact with the COS mixture for two hours (twice the normal contact time). Mixtures containing H2S caused the failure of the test however, concentrations as high as 3.5 ppm (mass/mass) H2S passed the test. Moreover, we were not able to reproduce the colors and patterns shown on the ASTM copper strip corrosion standards lithograph.

Citation

Energy and Fuels

Volume

17

Issue

No. 1

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

carbonyl sulfide, copper strip corrosion test, hydrogen sulfide, liquefied petroleum gas, LPG

Citation

Andersen, W. , Abdulagatov, I. and Bruno, T. (2003), The ASTM Copper Strip Corrosion Test: Application to Propane with Carbonyl Sulfide and Hydrogen Sulfide, Energy and Fuels, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=831835 (Accessed January 16, 2025)