Standard Test Method for Determining Organic Chloride in Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals by Microcoulometry according to ASTM D5808 Application Note · multi EA 5100

Introduction

Liquid hydrocarbons play an important role in refineries, the petrochemical, chemical and polymer industries, either as raw materials, process intermediates, or as end products. Regardless of their origin or further use, they all have in common that they should be ultra-pure when it comes to chlorine (c < 100 µg/L). If present, chlorine compounds can damage equipment (e.g., hydrotreatment or refinery reactors, pipelines and storage tanks) by formation of corrosive hydrochloric acid through hydrolysis processes or chemical reactions. Chlorine compounds – no matter if organic or inorganic – negatively affect the production process and the quality of the end products by formation of undesired by-products and catalyst poisoning. Since this happens even in presence of smallest traces, the maximum chlorine levels for process streams and final hydrocarbon products are defined in various standards. A stringent control with fast, reliable and highly sensitive analysis techniques is crucial to ensure adherence to those regulations.

The most effective method for a fast and reliable analysis is high-temperature combustion in combination with coulometric titration. The multi EA 5100 is an analysis system which has been specifically optimized for this challenging task. With its Auto-Protection system and highly sensitive detection, it allows the determination of chlorine traces as low as 50 µg/L