Refinery and Natural Gas Analysis

Importance of the Topic

Oil refineries and natural gas producers require precise and efficient chemical analysis to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance and process optimization. Trace-level detection of impurities, accurate hydrocarbon profiling and metals quantification are critical for operational safety and profitability in the energy sector.

Objectives and Overview of the Article

This article presents an integrated suite of analytical solutions by PerkinElmer tailored for refinery and natural gas laboratories. It reviews instrumentation platforms, consumables, data management and service support designed to address common testing workflows, including chromatography, spectroscopy and sample preparation.

Methodology and Analytical Workflows

PerkinElmer offers a range of standard methods aligned with ASTM, IP and ISO protocols for analyses such as simulated distillation, detailed hydrocarbon analysis, sulfur and metals quantification. Workflows combine:

• Gas chromatography with advanced injector and microflow Swafer technology for hydrocarbon speciation.
• FT-IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy for functional group and sulfur analysis in fuels and biodiesel.
• ICP-OES and ICP-MS for simultaneous multi-element detection in crude oil and finished products.
• Mercury analyzers and AA systems for trace metal and mercury determinations.

Used Instrumentation

• Clarus GC series (GC, GC/MS, SimDis applications with Swafer technology)
• SMS 100 Automated Mercury Analyzer
• Avio 500 ICP-OES and NexION ICP-MS
• Spectrum Two and Frontier FT-IR spectrometers
• Lambda UV/Vis spectrophotometers
• PEM-based hydrogen generators
• OneSource laboratory service network

Main Results and Discussion

Integration of microflow GC injectors and backflush techniques reduced analysis times by up to 75% for benzene quantification in ethanol-blended gasoline. Simulated distillation on Clarus 590/690 instruments achieved high accuracy in boiling point curves with faster run cycles. FT-IR methods delivered reliable biodiesel content assessment in minutes, while ICP and AA platforms provided robust multi-element profiling for process control.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Method

The platform enables laboratories to streamline sample throughput, minimize maintenance downtime and maintain compliance with global standards. Turnkey solutions, paired with a comprehensive service network, improve operational efficiency and data confidence across crude oil, fuels, LPG, natural gas and specialty products testing.

Future Trends and Applications

Ongoing developments include further miniaturization of injector technology, enhanced automation and artificial intelligence-driven data analytics for real-time process monitoring. Expanding multi-technique integration and remote diagnostic services will support dynamic process control and sustainable energy initiatives.

Conclusion

PerkinElmer’s holistic approach, combining advanced analytical instrumentation, consumables and global support services, addresses the diverse testing demands of modern refinery and natural gas laboratories. These solutions enable more accurate, efficient and compliant analyses essential for quality assurance and optimized operations.

References

No external literature references were provided in the source document.