Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis for Certification of Sulfur in Fuel Oil SRMs

Published

February 8, 2017

Author(s)

Rick L. Paul

Abstract

A combination of cold neutron prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (CNPGAA) and thermal neutron (TN) PGAA was used to determine sulfur in fuel oils down to 0.1 % for the purpose of developing a method to provide values for certification. The cold neutron PGAA instrument on neutron guide NGD at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) was used to measure S/H mass ratios, with mixtures of L-cystine/graphite/urea and Na2SO4/graphite/urea used as standards. The VT5 thermal neutron PGAA instrument was used to measure hydrogen mass fractions, with H sensitivity calibrated vs sample mass using 95 % ethanol, H2O, and solutions of Na2SO4 as calibrants. Sulfur was determined by combining TNPGAA and CNPGAA measurements. Sulfur mass fractions (with expanded uncertainties) of 2.1059 % ± 0.072 % for SRM 1622e, 0.7066 % ± 0.0120 % for SRM 1619b, and 0.1266 % ± 0.0030 % for SRM 1617b, in agreement with certified values. The results validate the method as being suitable for producing sulfur values for certification at mass fractions down to 0.1 %

Citation

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume

311

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4935-x

Keywords

prompt gamma-ray activation analysis, cold neutrons, thermal neutrons, analytical chemistry, sulfur, fossil fuels, fuel oils, reference materials

Citation

Paul, R. (2017), Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis for Certification of Sulfur in Fuel Oil SRMs, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4935-x (Accessed June 7, 2025)