UOP 971 Standard Test Method for Determination of Nitrogen in Light Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Oxidative Combustion with Chemiluminescence Detection

The UOP 971 standard outlines the test method for determining nitrogen in light aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, using oxidative combustion followed by chemiluminescence detection. This method is applicable to the quantitative determination of nitrogen at levels ranging from 30 to 400 ng/g. For samples containing more than 400 ng/g of nitrogen, alternative methods such as ASTM D4629 or D6069 are recommended. The total nitrogen content is crucial for assessing the quality of light aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk potential for further processing.

Nitrogen compounds can significantly impact the quality and performance of hydrocarbons, especially in industrial applications where purity is critical. The total nitrogen, a sum parameter includes all nitrogen compounds present in the sample, provides a complete picture of nitrogen contamination. This is essential to prevent risks such as catalyst poisoning and formation of amines during further processing in various industrial processes.

Oxidative combustion ensures the complete digestion of nitrogen-containing compounds to nitrogen oxides (NOx), after conversion to NO, the nitrogen content by aid of chemiluminescence detection (CLD). Thanks to its reduced pressure this technique is highly sensitive and provides accurate results. The method's ability to detect low levels of nitrogen compounds makes it particularly valuable for industries that require high-purity hydrocarbons.

In summary, UOP 971 is a crucial standard for determining nitrogen in light aromatic hydrocarbons using oxidative combustion and chemiluminescence detection. 

With its multi EA 5100 and compEAct elemental analyzers, Analytik Jena offers two analyzers that are specially suited for the challenging task of trace nitrogen analysis in light organic liquids. The combination of efficient, catalyst-free combustion, high-performance drying of the measured combustion gas, and powerful HiPerSens detection allows precise quantification of nitrogen traces as low as 30 ng/g N. 

Sources

• UOP 971 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Nitrogen in Light Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Oxidative Combustion with Chemiluminescence Detection