Measurement of H2S in Crude Oil and Crude Oil Headspace Using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography, Deans Switching and Sulfur-selective Detection

Summary

A multidimensional gas chromatography method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in liquid crude oil samples is presented. A Deans switch is used to heart-cut light sulfur gases for separation on a secondary column and detection on a sulfur chemiluminescence detector.

Abstract

A method for the analysis of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in crude oil samples is demonstrated using gas chromatography. In order to effectively eliminate interferences, a two dimensional column configuration is used, with a Deans switch employed to transfer hydrogen sulfide from the first to the second column (heart-cutting). Liquid crude samples are first separated on a dimethylpolysiloxane column, and light gases are heart-cut and further separated on a bonded porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column that is able to separate hydrogen sulfide from other light sulfur species. Hydrogen sulfide is then detected with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector, adding an additional layer of selectivity. Following separation and detection of hydrogen sulfide, the system is backflushed to remove the high-boiling hydrocarbons present in the crude samples and to preserve chromatographic integrity. Dissolved hydrogen sulfide has been quantified in liquid samples from 1.1 to 500 ppm, demonstrating wide applicability to a range of samples. The method has also been successfully applied for the analysis of gas samples from crude oil headspace and process gas bags, with measurement from 0.7 to 9,700 ppm hydrogen sulfide.

Introduction

Accurate analysis of crude oil is essential for the oil and gas industry, as health and safety regulations and economics are functions of oil quality. In order to protect transporters of crude samples, it is necessary to determine the properties of crude samples to develop safety regulations to be implemented in the event of a release or spill. In particular, quantification of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is important, due to its high toxicity in the gas phase; exposures as low as 100 ppm can be fatal (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7783064.html)^1,2. Dissolved H₂S in crude samples is generally considered to be corrosive^3,4, and can deactivate catalysts used to treat the oil^5-7. Removal of H₂S from crude oil streams is ideal, but without a method to measure dissolved H₂S, it is difficult to assess the success of removal treatments. For these reasons, this protocol was developed to measure dissolved H₂S in heavy crude oil samples such as Canadian oil sands crudes.

A number of standard methods exist for quantification of H₂S in lighter petroleum or fuel based samples, but none have been validated for use with the heavier crudes commonly extracted from the Canadian oil sands. H₂S and mercaptans are determined using a titration technique by Universal Oil Products (UOP) method 163⁸, but this method suffers from user-interpretation bias that results from manual reading of titration curves. Institute of Petroleum (IP) method 570 uses a specialty H₂S analyzer that heats fuel oil samples⁹, and benefits from simplicity and portability, but lacks accuracy with heavier samples¹⁰. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) method D5623 uses gas chromatography (GC) with cryogenic cooling and sulfur selective detection to measure H₂S in light petroleum liquids^11,12. This standard could be improved to use an ambient separation and also be applied to heavier crude oils, therefore it was used as the basis for the protocol discussed herein.

GC is a heavily used technique for the analysis of petroleum samples. Samples are vaporized in a hot inlet, and separations occur in the gas phase. The gas phase separation makes GC ideal for the analysis of H₂S, as it is easily liberated from the liquid sample during heating in the inlet. GC methods can be created and tailored for different samples, depending on the temperature programs used, columns implemented, and the use of multidimensional chromatography^13-15. There have been a number of recent developments for the measurement of H₂S using GC. Luong et al. demonstrated H₂S and other light sulfur compound measurement in light and middle distillates using multidimensional GC and Deans switching, but the method has not yet been applied to heavier crudes¹⁶. Di Sanzo et al. also quantified H₂S in gasoline using GC, however it also has not been used on heavier crudes, and requires sub-ambient cooling¹⁷. The method presented here demonstrates considerable time saving over these previous methods, with a completed analysis time of 5 min, compared to 10 min (Luong) and 40 min (Di Sanzo). Unfortunately, implementation of these methods in our lab to compare accuracy was not possible due to equipment and time restrictions.

Multidimensional GC allows the user to exploit the selectivity of two columns, rather than a single column. In conventional GC, separation occurs on one column. In the case of multidimensional GC, the sample is separated on two different columns, enhancing the separation and selectivity. The Deans switch is one device used to employ a two-dimensional column configuration. The switch uses an external valve to direct gas flow from an inlet on the switch to one of two outlet ports^18-20. Effluent from the first column can be directed in either direction; in this case, light sulfur gases are “heart cut”²¹ from the first separation to a porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column for secondary separation, which has been shown to be excellent for the separation of H₂S from other light sulfur gases (http://www.chem.agilent.com/cag/cabu/pdf/gaspro.pdf)^22-24. A sulfur chemiluminescence detector is used for detection, providing selectivity for sulfur compounds and eliminating possible interference from any other light gases that may have been transferred to the PLOT column during the heart cut. Hydrocarbons from the crude oil sample are retained on the first dimension column and are removed during a backflush procedure; this protects the PLOT column from any contamination^25-27. This approach has also been successfully implemented for the analysis of oxidation inhibitors in transformer oils²⁸.

Herein, a two-dimensional GC method is employed for the analysis and quantification of dissolved H₂S in heavy crude oil samples. The method is shown to be applicable over a wide range of H₂S concentrations, and can also be used to measure H₂S in gas phase samples.

Protocol

Caution: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) for materials before using. In particular, CS₂ is highly flammable and should be stored and handled appropriately. H₂S gas is highly toxic, and any containers or gas bags containing H₂S should not be opened or handled outside of a properly vented fumehood. Work with crude oil samples should only be done with full personal protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, lab coat, pants and closed-toe shoes), and all crude samples should be opened, transferred and handled in a fumehood. Certified gas standards will be delivered from the manufacturer with an expiry date, and for the most accurate results care should be taken to use standards that have not expired.

1. Preparation of Standards

1. Liquid standards
   1. Using an automatic pipette, dispense 10 µl of carbon disulfide (CS₂) into a 50 ml volumetric flask. Fill the volumetric flask to the marked line with HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) grade toluene. Cap the flask and mix the solution by inverting and swirling a minimum of five times; this is the 500 ppm stock calibration solution.
   2. On each day of analysis, prepare four vials of CS₂ for calibration. Label four 1.5 ml autosampler vials and place them in a vial tray.
   3. Using an automatic pipette, dispense 200 µl of the 500 ppm stock CS₂ solution into each vial. Using a second automatic pipette, dispense 800 µl of HPLC grade toluene into each of the four vials. Cap each vial immediately after dispensing the CS₂ and toluene, and invert three times to mix; these are the 100 ppm calibration standards.
2. Gas standards
   1. Move a gas cylinder of certified calibration gas to a vented fumehood, and attach a regulator that is fitted for attachment to a gas bag.
   2. Open the nozzle on an empty gas bag and attach the gas bag to the regulator on the gas cylinder.
   3. With the regulator closed, open the gas cylinder by turning the knob on top counterclockwise.
   4. Turn the knob on the regulator counterclockwise until a steady flow of gas fills the gas bag. When the gas bag is full, turn the regulator knob clockwise to shut off the gas flow.
   5. Close the nozzle on the gas bag and detach it from the regulator. Close the gas cylinder by turning the knob on top clockwise. Open the regulator to purge any remaining gas and release pressure, closing it again when the regulator no longer has any gas it in it.

2. Instrument Set-up

1. Method parameters
   1. Using the following procedure, configure the Deans switch according to the columns installed in the gas chromatograph, as each system will have unique pressure settings.
   2. Open a Deans switch calculator program on a computer, and input the column dimensions, carrier gas, temperature, desired flow rates and detectors used (see Figure 1).The calculator will define the pressures needed for the inlet and pressure control module (PCM), and the length of restrictor tubing needed for installation between the Deans switch and the flame ionization detector (FID). Note these pressures and input them into the method file.
   3. Using the information from the Deans switch calculator and the information in Table 1, program the method file with the correct parameters for either gas or liquid analysis. Save the method file.

Figure 1. Deans switch calculator. Screenshot of the Deans switch calculator program. User-adjustable parameters are shown in white boxes, and output parameters are shown in blue boxes. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

2. Column installation
   1. Ensure that the instrument, oven and inlet are at RT. Turn off the gas flow to the inlet and PCM supplying flow to the Deans switch.
   2. Following the manufacturer's instructions, install the dimethylpolysiloxane column between the split/splitless inlet and the Deans switch, the PLOT column between the Deans switch and the sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD), and the restrictor tubing (length determined in step 2.1.2) between the Deans switch and the FID.
   3. Using the gas chromatograph software, turn on the carrier gas flow to the inlet and PCM, and test the system for leaks by passing an electronic leak detector in close proximity of the fittings at the end of each column and at the Deans switch; leaks are indicated by a light and/or sound notification on the detector.
      1. If leaks are present, gently tighten fittings and re-test with the electronic leak detector. Close the oven door and turn on the gas chromatograph oven and inlet heater.
   4. Perform a bake-out of the columns and restrictor tubing by increasing the oven temperature to the upper temperature limit of the PLOT column (found on the column documentation); allow the oven to sit at this temperature for a minimum of 3 hr.
   5. When the bake-out is complete, cool the oven to RT and re-test the connections inside the oven for gas leaks with the electronic leak detector, tightening where necessary.
   6. Load the pre-programmed method file using the software controlling the gas chromatograph; the instrument is ready for analysis.

Figure 2. Gas chromatograph oven. Configuration of the column arrangement in the GC oven. FID: flame ionization detector, SCD: sulfur chemiluminescence detector. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

3. Determining proper Deans switch timing
   1. As the Deans switch is controlled by a valve in the gas chromatograph; locate the valve timing point section in the method parameters. In the software, set the switch to "on", and create time events for the valve that controls the Deans switch, beginning with the valve turning "off" at 0.5 min, and a second event that turns the valve "on" again at 3.0 min. The "off" position in this description corresponds to the direction in which column effluent will be carried to the SCD.
   2. Place a gas bag containing the calibration gas (known amount of H₂S in helium) in the fumehood, and place a rubber nipple or equivalent penetrable cover on the nozzle of the gas bag. Open the nozzle on the gas bag.
   3. Using a 250 µl gas-tight glass syringe, puncture the rubber nipple on the top of the bag and withdraw 250 µl of calibration gas. Cap the syringe with an inlet septa, and transport the syringe to the gas chromatograph.
   4. Remove the septa cap from the syringe; manually and swiftly inject the calibration gas into the gas chromatograph, simultaneously starting the software acquisition. The H₂S will appear as a peak on the SCD signal trace; record the retention time of this peak. .
   5. Begin decreasing the time of the heart-cut window, one side at a time (i.e., decrease the valve "on" event by 0.1 min for sequential injections); continue in this manner until the H₂S peak disappears from the chromatogram. Add 0.2 min to this time and note it as the upper limit of the heart-cut window.
   6. Perform the same procedure on the lower end of the time window, gradually increasing the time of the valve "off" event for sequential injections until the peaks are no longer visible. Subtract 0.2 min from this time and note it as the lower limit of the heart-cut window.
   7. Save the valve "on"/"off" commands into the method file.

3. Instrument Calibration

1. Liquid
   1. Ensure that a liquid autosampler is installed on the split/splitless inlet of the gas chromatograph. Place the four previously prepared calibration vials in vial positions 1-4 on the autosampler tray.
   2. Using a glass pipette, fill a vial with HPLC grade toluene and place it in the vial position for the wash solvent on the autosampler tray. Ensure that the waste vial or reservoir on the autosampler tray is empty.
   3. Load the method configured for liquid phase analysis on the software connected to the gas chromatograph; ensure that both detectors are turned on and that the gas chromatograph is in a ready state.
   4. Use the gas chromatograph software to perform one injection per vial according to the method, and integrate the CS₂ peak in each chromatogram using the software provided with the gas chromatograph.
   5. Using a spreadsheet program, calculate an average response factor for the SCD by dividing the area counts of the CS₂ peak by the concentration of the calibration solution (100 ppm), and then dividing this by two to give response per one atom of sulfur.
2. Gas
   1. Ensure that the liquid autosampler tower has been removed from the gas chromatograph, and load the appropriate method for gas analysis. Ensure that both detectors are turned on, and that the gas chromatograph is in a ready state.
   2. Inject the calibration gas as described in steps 2.3.2 to 2.3.4.
   3. Repeat the manual injection of calibration gas a minimum of three times.
   4. Use the gas chromatograph data analysis software to integrate the H₂S peaks in the three injections and, using a spreadsheet program, calculate an average response factor for H₂S by dividing the average area of the H₂S peaks by the concentration of H₂S in the gas bag.

4. Sample Analysis

1. Liquid
   1. Assess crudes for injection by transferring a small amount (<1 ml) with a glass pipette. If the crude is transferred with no significant residue left in the glass pipette, the crude can be injected neat. If the crude leaves a significant amount in the glass pipette, dilute as described in 4.1.2. For crudes that can be injected neat, transfer ~1 ml of the crude into a gas chromatograph autosampler vial, and cap the vial.
   2. Dilute high viscosity crudes by transferring 0.75 ml of crude with an automatic pipette to an autosampler vial, and adding an equal volume of HPLC grade toluene. Cap and invert the vial with shaking to adequately mix the solution.
   3. Place the filled vials in the autosampler tray, and load the liquid analysis method on the gas chromatograph software.
   4. Using the gas chromatograph software and the previously configured method (Table 1), use the automatic sampler to perform three replicate injections per vial.
2. Gas
   1. Headspace
      1. Fill a 500 ml amber glass bottle with 450 ml of the crude to be analyzed. Attach a septum-topped cap to the top of the bottle. Perform any crude transfer steps in a vented fumehood.
      2. Place the bottle(s) to be analyzed in a temperature controlled environment (i.e., a water bath at 30 °C). Note: Crude oil samples may become volatile at elevated temperatures and care should be exercised depending on the samples used.
      3. Using a 1 ml glass gas tight syringe, puncture the septum top and leave the syringe in the top of the bottle to provide an avenue for pressure release if the gas in the headspace should build up.
      4. Leave the bottle(s) in the temperature controlled environment for 24 hr, gently lifting and shaking the bottles once an h to equilibrate the H₂S between the liquid and headspace.
      5. To analyze the headspace gas, puncture the septum top and withdraw µl of gas into a gas tight glass syringe.
      6. Cap the syringe end with a piece of inlet septa and transport the syringe to the gas chromatograph. Manually and swiftly inject the gas into the inlet, simultaneously starting the software to begin data collection.
      7. Repeat this procedure to obtain a minimum of three replicate injections of gas. If the H₂S peak is too concentrated and not on the scale of the detector (see Figure 3), perform the procedure with a smaller syringe of gas to bring the peak on scale; i.e., 100 µl or 25 µl.
   2. Gas bags
      1. Place a rubber nipple or equivalent penetrable cover on the nozzle of the gas bag to be analyzed, and place the gas bag in a vented fumehood.
      2. Ensure the correct method for gas analysis is loaded on the gas chromatograph software, and that the gas chromatograph is in the ready state.
      3. Open the nozzle on the gas bag, and puncture the top of the nipple with a 250 µl gas tight syringe. Fill the syringe with 250 µl of gas, withdraw the syringe, and close the nozzle on the gas bag.
      4. Cap the syringe end with a piece of inlet septa and transport the syringe to the gas chromatograph, and manually inject the gas into the inlet, simultaneously starting the software to begin data collection.
      5. Repeat this procedure to obtain a minimum of three replicate injections of gas. If the H₂S peak is too concentrated and is not on the scale of the detector (see Figure 3), perform the procedure with a smaller syringe of gas to bring the peak on scale; i.e., 100 µl or 25 µl.

Figure 3. A gas chromatogram with an overloaded H₂S peak. A gas injection from the headspace of a liquid crude sample held at 30 °C, demonstrating an overloading of the SCD. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

5. Data Analysis

1. Liquid
   1. Determining H₂S peak retention time (only needs to be repeated if instrument configuration changes)
      1. Use a glass pipette to fill a GC autosampler vial with a liquid crude that does not require dilution and cap the vial.
      2. Load the appropriate method for liquid analysis on the gas chromatograph software, and ensure the liquid autosampler tower is installed.
      3. Place the liquid crude sample in the autosampler tray, and perform one injection of the crude.
      4. Fill a glass gas-tight syringe with 750 µl of H₂S-containing gas (2.5% in helium). Remove the vial from the autosampler tray and puncture the septa on the cap of the vial with the syringe filled with gas, and place the end of the syringe below the surface of the sample in the vial. Depress the plunger on the syringe to bubble the gas through the crude sample.
      5. Place the vial back in the autosampler tray and use the software to direct the autosampler to perform a single injection of the spiked sample.
      6. Using the software accompanying the gas chromatograph, compare the chromatograms before and after the H₂S spike. A large peak should be present in the second chromatogram that was not present in the first chromatogram; record the retention time of this peak (see Figure 4).
   2. Analysis
      1. Use the data analysis software accompanying the gas chromatograph to integrate the peak area for H₂S (identify using the retention time noted in step 5.1.1.6) in each chromatogram (Figure 5), and calculate the average peak area for each sample with a spreadsheet program.
      2. Using the response factor determined in Section 3.1, divide the average peak area for the sample by the response factor to give the amount of H₂S present in ppm. For samples that were diluted, multiply the concentration by the correct dilution factor to give the amount of H₂S in the undiluted sample (Figure 6).

Figure 4. Crude sample spiked with H ₂ S. Two overlaid chromatograms illustrating the change expected when spiking a crude sample with H₂S. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 5. Gas chromatogram data analysis. A screenshot of a data analysis program highlighting the location of an H₂S peak in a sample and the peak area to be used to determine the concentration of H₂S. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 6. Sample spreadsheet for data analysis. A screenshot of a spreadsheet program showing an example of how to calculate the concentration of H₂S using the area of the calibration standard peak and the area of the sample peak. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

2. Gas
   1. Identify the H₂S peak in each chromatogram by matching the retention time of the H₂S peak used to calibrate in Section 3.2.
   2. Use the data analysis software accompanying the gas chromatograph to integrate the peak area for each H₂S peak in the collected data, and calculate the average peak area for each sample.
   3. Using the response factor determined in Section 3.2, divide the average peak area for the sample by the response factor to give the amount of H₂S present in ppm. For samples that used a smaller syringe volume, multiply the concentration by the correct dilution factor to give the amount of H₂S that would be present in a 250 µl syringe (i.e., (250 µl/25 µl for a 25 µl syringe).

Results

In order to obtain reliable quantification of H₂S for both liquid and gas samples, proper calibration is necessary. For calibration injections and sample injections, the H₂S peak should not be overlapping with neighboring peaks and should have a reproducible peak area. Figure 3 shows an injection of a gas sample where the gas is too concentrated for this method. It was found that gas concentrations of greater than 500 ppm using a 250 µl syringe overloaded the detector. This issue wa...

Discussion

In order to achieve optimum measurement of H₂S, this method employs a Deans switch, backflushing and a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD). A dimethylpolysiloxane column is used as the first dimension GC column, and serves to retard the movement of heavier hydrocarbons present in the sample so that they do not contaminate the PLOT column. This effect is enhanced by a cool (50 °C) initial separation. Light gases pass through the first dimension column and are captured by the PLOT column during the hear...

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Deans switch	Agilent	G2855A	Or equivalent flow switching device
Restrictor tubing	Agilent	160-2615-10	Fused silica, deactivated, 180 µm
HP-PONA column	Agilent	19091S-001
GasPro column	Agilent	113-4332
Sulfur chemiluminescence detector, 355	Agilent/Sievers	G6603A
H2S calibration standard, in He	Air Liquide	Custom order	211 ppm H2S
CS2	Fisher Scientific	C184-500
Toluene, HPLC grade	Fisher Scientific	T290-4
Gas bag, 2 L	Calibrated Instruments, Inc.	GSB-P/2	Twist on/off nozzle
250 µl gas tight syringe	Hamilton	81130
500 ml amber glass bottle	Scientific Specialties	N73616
Open top screw caps	Scientific Specialties	169628
Tegrabond disc for screw caps	Chromatographic Specialties	C889125C	25 mm, 10/90 MIL
1 ml gas tight syringe	Hamilton	81330
2.5% H2S in He gas standard	Air Liquide	Custom order