Solubility of Elemental Sulfur in Toluene between (267.15 and 313.15) K under Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

The occurrence of sulfur deposits in natural gas transmission facilities has recently been observed. Only modeling approaches of this subject are available and suggest desublimation of sulfur as the mechanism responsible for the deposit. Quantification of the sulfur deposit is the first step to an experimental study of the phenomenon. The solid present on polluted pieces is recovered by solving it in a toluene bath. Thus, experimental data concerning sulfur solubility in toluene are necessary for the deposit quantification. The analytical method developed in this work is based on the chemical reaction between elemental sulfur and triphenylphosphine to produce triphenylphosphine sulfide. Gas chromatography (GC) coupled with a flame photometric detector (FPD) in phosphorus mode allows sulfur quantification indirectly. This analysis method is used for determining the solubility of sulfur in toluene under atmospheric pressure and temperature ranging from (267.15 to 313.15) K.