Determination of total nitrogen content by different approaches in petroleum matrices

Abstract

Two analytical methods are developed and validated for determination of low total nitrogen levels (below 0.0150%) in different petroleum matrices. The experimental and the instrumental conditions are optimized during the study. The oxidative combustion method with chemiluminescence’s detection is automatic with less handling while the Kjeldahl method involves more manual handling procedures and hence, has more potential for problems rise from contamination. The oxidative combustion with chemiluminescence’s detection method is more sensitive, faster (i.e. the determination requires few minutes compared to several hours with Kjeldahl method) and lees hazardous (i.e. no handling of dangerous boiling sulfuric acid). The estimated analytical characteristics suggest that two methods are reliable: the mean values of recovery for the Kjeldahl method and the other method are respectively 91.5% and 98.6%. The relative uncertainties are less than 2.5% and 2.8% respectively for the developed methods. The detection limits, based on the triple standard deviation, are 5 and 0.03 mgN kg −1 respectively.