Acquiring Information on the Total Content and Speciation of Silicon in Petroleum Products/Fuels Using High-Resolution Continuum Source Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Wavelength-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

Abstract

Various chemical forms of silicon (Si) possibly present in petroleum products/fuels were investigated in this work: low-molecular-mass species with different compositions, structures, and volatilities, as well as a Conostan oil standard, polysiloxanes, and silicon dioxide. Analysis in xylene solutions was accomplished using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD XRF) or high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS). Samples were also analyzed using HR-CS FAAS in aqueous solutions after mineralization in a closed microwave-heated system, mineralization in an open system, or mineralization combined with fusion using lithium metaborate. It was found that none of the applied procedures was suitable for the accurate determination of Si in all the tested forms. The total content of Si can only be determined if various methodological variants are applied. Using WD XRF, similar signals are obtained for all the investigated organic Si forms. The procedure is also helpful ...