Agilent 8355 Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector

Importance of the topic

Low-level sulfur monitoring is vital across petrochemical, environmental, and industrial sectors to meet stringent regulatory limits, protect catalysts from poisoning, and ensure product quality. Sensitive and selective detection of trace sulfur compounds supports process optimization and safety while minimizing environmental impact.

Objectives and overview

This application note presents the Agilent 8355 Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector (SCD) fully integrated with the Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph and OpenLAB Chromatography Data System. The goal is to streamline trace sulfur analysis workflows, enhance uptime, and maintain compliance with ASTM standards for diverse fuel and chemical matrices.

Instrumentation used

• Agilent 8355 Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector
• Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph
• Agilent OpenLAB CDS and MassHunter software
• CP17989 Gas Clean Purification System (with Baseplate CP738407)
• Agilent J&W DB-Sulfur SCD columns

Methodology

The SCD employs a dual-plasma burner design coupled with an optimized ozone generator and electronic pneumatic control for precise flow regulation. Integration with the 7890B GC allows direct communication of methods, supports ASTM D5623 for light petroleum liquids and ASTM D5504 for natural gas, and delivers a linear, equimolar response without analog truncation.

Main results and discussion

Redesign of the burner assembly reduced pathway connections by ~40%, burner components by ~50%, and inner ceramic tube replacement time by ~92% (from 2 hours to ~10 minutes). The system achieves a dynamic linear range spanning four orders of magnitude (0.1 to 1,000 ppm) with RSDs below 7% and demonstrates long-term signal stability for analytes such as t-butyl disulfide.

Benefits and practical applications

• Enhanced productivity through rapid maintenance and walk-up readiness
• High selectivity and sensitivity for complex trace-sulfur methods
• Full compliance with industry standards (ASTM methods)
• Compatibility with legacy and third-party GC systems
• Reduced downtime and operational costs via low-bleed DB-Sulfur columns

Future trends and possibilities

Laboratory workflows will continue to evolve toward integrated, software-driven solutions, leveraging multi-vendor support and AI-enabled data analysis. Advances in low-bleed column chemistries, digital pneumatics, and real-time diagnostics will further improve detector stability, lower detection limits, and expand applications into nitrogen chemiluminescence and emerging fuel analyses.

Conclusion

The Agilent 8355 SCD integrated with the 7890B GC and OpenLAB CDS represents a next-generation platform for trace sulfur detection. It delivers unmatched sensitivity, streamlined maintenance, and seamless compliance with ASTM standards, enabling laboratories to achieve accurate, high-throughput sulfur analyses.

References

• Agilent Technologies. Agilent 8355 Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector. Application Note, 2015.
• ASTM D5623-16. Analysis of Sulfur Compounds in Light Petroleum Liquids by GC and Sulfur Selective Detection.
• ASTM D5504-17. Determination of Sulfur Compounds in Natural Gas by GC and Chemiluminescence Detection.
• Agilent CrossLab Services. Enhancing Laboratory Productivity. 2023.