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PUBLICATIONS

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

Published

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
Analytical chemistry, Conventional energy, Fuels, Environment, Neutron research and 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 October 27, 2025)

Issues

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Created February 8, 2017, Updated November 10, 2018
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