Background

Chlorides in crude contribute to corrosion in the piping at refineries during cracking as well as mid-stream in pipelines. Organic chlorides do not naturally occur in crude; however, inorganic chlorides in the form of salts and trace levels of residual organic chlorides from various natural sources can contribute to the total chlorine content. Inorganic chlorides can be removed from crude through a wash process; however, low levels of organic chlorides may remain. Contracts at the pipelines may contain clauses limiting the amount of organic chloride allowed in the crude. And at the refinery, after desalting and desulfurization, crude needs to be analyzed for any residual organic chlorides possibly still entrained in the feedstock to avoid potential damage during the refining process. And so, the need for a reliable measurement of low level and trace chlorine is critical in the petroleum industry. To meet this vital need, Rigaku offers NEX CG II monochromatic EDXRF using Cartesian Geometry and polarization.