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Advancing Elemental Analysis of Petroleum Products through Microwave Digestion

September 10, 2025

Petroleum-based materials, including crude oils, lubricants, residues, and asphaltenes, present a particular challenge due to their complex composition of heavy hydrocarbons, metals, and additives that complicate full decomposition. Accurate determination of trace elements – such as vanadium, nickel, iron, sulfur, calcium, and zinc, which directly impact refining efficiency and product quality – depends on complete and reproducible sample digestion.

Standards and Methods in Petroleum Elemental Analysis

ASTM D5185 – Multielement determination of wear metals, contaminants, and additives in lubricating oils by ICP-OES.
ASTM D4951 – Additive elements in lubricating oils by ICP-OES, requiring complete digestion of complex organic additives.
ISO 10478 – Trace metals in crude petroleum and petroleum products by ICP techniques.
ASTM D5708 – Determination of nickel, vanadium, and iron in crude oils and residual fuels.

Each of these methods relies on quantitative sample decomposition. Incomplete digestion leads to poor recovery, spectral interferences, and compromised detection limits.

Why Microwave Digestion Stands Out

· Traditional open-vessel methods can take hours or even days. In contrast, microwave digestion completes the process in as little as 20 to 60 minutes – significantly boosting sample throughput and laboratory productivity

· Operating in a sealed environment reduces contamination risks and improves consistency. Close control over temperature and pressure ensures highly reproducible digestions, even with mixed sample batches

· Handling strong acids at elevated temperatures and pressures requires robust safety features. To this end, microwaves systems are equipped with interlocks, pressure relief valves, exhaust systems, and automatic shutdown protocols to maintain operator safety and protect lab integrity

How UltraWAVE Differs from Conventional Microwave Digestion

Unlike rotor-based systems, all samples in UltraWAVE are digested in one pressurized chamber – Single Reaction Chamber (SRC) Design. This ensures identical temperature and pressure conditions for every sample, eliminating variability between vessels.

The SRC approach reduces the amount of acid required compared to conventional microwave digestion. The result is lower reagent blanks, cleaner digests, and improved detection limits for trace elements in ICP-MS or ICP-OES analysis.

UltraWAVE operates at up to 300 °C and 199 bar, far beyond the limits of conventional vessels. These extreme conditions guarantee complete breakdown of even the most resistant petroleum matrices, including heavy oils and viscous residues.

Since all samples share the same reaction environment, petroleum products can be digested alongside lubricants, additives, or even inorganic matrices in the same run – without risk of cross-contamination or incomplete digestion.

Conclusion

UltraWAVE ensures reproducible, contamination-free digestions even for the most challenging petroleum matrices. For laboratories engaged in ASTM D5185, ASTM D4951, ISO 10478, or ASTM D5708, UltraWAVE provides not just operational efficiency but also the scientific rigor required for regulatory compliance and reliable decision-making in petroleum testing.

Download the complete Industry Report

Is measuring jet fuel Viscosity more accurate than Freezing Point?

September 3, 2025

The freezing point test has been the primary method for evaluating jet fuel performance in cold conditions for a long time. The logic was simple: if the fuel doesn’t freeze, it should flow. In practice, this isn’t always true. Recent studies show that viscosity – the measure of a fuel’s resistance to flow – is a much stronger predictor of whether jet fuel will reliably move through pumps and lines at low temperatures.

Freezing Point is losing dominance

According to a Coordinating Research Council (CRC) analysis, engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) show greater concern for how well fuel flows through the aircraft system, especially at low temperatures – not just whether it has solidified in the tank. The study concluded that “freezing point test is not an effective test for predicting fuel flow behavior in the aircraft at low temperatures.” In other words, just because a fuel sample hasn’t frozen doesn’t mean it will flow easily enough to support engines, pumps, and auxiliary systems.

Viscosity, on the other hand, directly measures how easily fuel can be pumped, atomized, and delivered where it’s needed. High viscosity can limit fuel movement, which leads to reliability risks, especially during long-haul flights where fuel temperatures drop significantly.

Recommendations from the CRC Report

Develop or validate a low-temperature scanning viscometer capable of accurately predicting pumpability.
Establish a viscosity-equivalent limit that can be used in fuel specifications.
Investigate chemical changes affecting viscosity at low temps.
Assess OEM support for replacing freezing-point methods with viscosity-based criteria.

Based on these recommendations, the aviation industry is shifting from theoretical freeze thresholds to flow-based diagnostics.

Enter the JFA-70Xi – A Modern Three-in-One Analyzer

Responding to this industry need, Phase Technology (now part of PAC) introduced the JFA-70Xi, the first and only certified analyzer to integrate:

Freezing Point (ASTM D5972/IP-435)
Viscosity (ASTM D7945) at –20 °C and –40 °C
Density (ASTM D4052)

All three tests are performed in less than 15 minutes, without chillers, solvents, or manual pipetting. It features automatic vial injection, self-cleaning and automatically calculates the 12 cSt viscosity limit.

Plus, the JFA-70Xi’s ASTM D7945 viscosity method provides significantly better repeatability and reproducibility than traditional standards like D445.

This innovation directly aligns with the CRC’s push for low-temperature viscosity as a key spec – and even earned inclusion in ASTM D1655, the official specification for jet fuel certification.

Read the full press article here

Smart Lubricant Testing in Petrochem: The Science Behind the XRF

August 27, 2025

Modern lubricants are the result of precise chemical engineering. Each bottle of motor oil or industrial lubricant contains a tailored mix of base oils and functional additives - such as detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, and anti-wear agents. Being able to analyze these additives quickly and accurately is essential for petrochemical manufacturers to ensure consistent quality and meet regulatory standards.

Why Additives Matter

Elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, molybdenum, and sulfur are more than just numbers on a datasheet. Calcium and magnesium, for example, provide detergent action that neutralizes acids. Zinc and phosphorus form protective films to reduce engine wear. Sulfur levels must be tightly controlled to comply with fuel and emissions regulations. Too much or too little of any of these elements can alter lubricant performance, shorten equipment life, or risk non-compliance.

Checking lubricating oil after use can give you information on the condition of the engine. By comparing the used oil analysis with new oil of identical type, you can easily identify new elements within the mix. The type of elements can help identify whether the oil has started to break down, or whether it’s the engine itself that has started to wear.

The X-Supreme8000 and LAB-X5000 from Hitachi

The X-Supreme8000 and LAB-X5000 use energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), is the ideal analysis technique as it is fast, accurate, completely non-destructive, and can be used to test a wide range of elements. Designed for high-throughput petrochemical environments, the analyzer requires no complex sample preparation: fill a cup, load it, and within minutes results are available. Built-in atmospheric compensation reduces the need for helium, cutting operating costs without sacrificing precision. The intuitive touchscreen and SmartCheck™ software provide straightforward Pass/Fail guidance, turning complex chemistry into clear decisions for QC staff.

The instruments align with globally recognized methods – ASTM D6481 and ASTM D7751 – ensuring results are accepted across refineries, blending plants, and regulatory bodies. With calibration traceable to ISO standards, it helps guarantee consistency across laboratories and production sites worldwide.

In the past, additive analysis was often time-consuming and required highly trained operators. The X-Supreme8000 and LAB-X5000 changes this by embedding intelligence into the workflow. Results can be stored locally, exported via USB, or instantly shared using the ExTOPE Connect cloud platform, improving traceability and reporting across an entire supply chain.

Download Lab-X5000-Oil for Lubricants Brochure

Boiling Point Profiles in Minutes – Meet AC SIMDIS

August 20, 2025

Boiling point distribution tells the real story of a petroleum product. It determines how fuel behaves in an engine, how crude oil will fractionate in a refinery, and whether a shipment meets strict trade and regulatory specifications. For decades, laboratories relied on physical distillation to generate these curves. But when precision, speed, and reproducibility are critical, simulated distillation using gas chromatography has become the method of choice.

Imagine running a full boiling point analysis of a crude oil sample – not over hours, but in a fraction of the time, with sharper resolution and greater reproducibility than a traditional distillation tower could ever deliver.

AC SIMDIS, developed by PAC, is a turnkey GC platform purpose-built for this task. It covers the full boiling range – from light naphtha to heavy C120 fractions – in strict compliance with ASTM, IP, ISO, DIN, and CEN standards. Whether you need ASTM D2887 for middle distillates, D6352 for heavy ends, or D7169 for extended ranges, AC SIMDIS delivers results that are both traceable and globally accepted.

Behind the performance is a combination of robust hardware and intelligent software. The Temperature Programmable Inlet ensures clean, stable, and repeatable sample introduction, while the Automated Liquid Sampler delivers precise, reproducible injections with minimal carryover. Together, they form a stable platform capable of handling complex petroleum streams with ease.

The heart of the system, SIMDIS XLNC™ software, turns chromatograms into actionable data. Analysts can visualize results, overlay curves for comparison, calculate ASTM-specific parameters, and generate customized reports. Built-in quality control, audit trails, and seamless LIMS integration keep operations efficient and compliant with ISO 17025 and other quality frameworks.

AC SIMDIS is also more than just a boiling point analyzer. With additional configurations, it can estimate flash points, calculate Volume Average Boiling Point (VABP) and Bureau of Mines Correlation Index (BMCI), determine molar mass, and even simultaneous determination sulfur- or nitrogen. This makes it an invaluable tool for crude oil assay, refinery optimization, and product certification.

Beyond the Lab: The Operational Advantage

In the demanding world of petroleum and chemical analysis, a fast and accurate result isn't just a technical achievement; it's an operational necessity. The speed of the AC SIMDIS system allows labs to provide data to plant operators in a matter of minutes, enabling timely adjustments to the refining process. This reduces the time a product spends in a holding tank and helps maximize throughput.

Equally important is the system's precision and reproducibility. By minimizing variability in your boiling point data, you reduce the risk of product giveaway – selling a higher-value product at a lower-value price – and ensure every batch confidently meets its regulatory and trade specifications. Ultimately, this leads to more efficient operations and better profitability.

From refinery labs monitoring daily production, to independent testing facilities certifying fuels for trade, AC SIMDIS offers a powerful combination of speed, precision, and regulatory confidence. It can also be a vital tool for beyond the traditional scope of fuels and crude testing. Understanding your hydrocarbons is paramount and the AC SIMDIS can provide critical data for research and development, renewable fuel initiatives, and a wide range of other petrochemical or petroleum adjacent applications.

Download the SIMDIS Brochure here

Next-Generation Accuracy in Distillation Testing: Introducing OptiDist® 2

August 13, 2025

Atmospheric distillation remains a critical tool for characterizing petroleum products, from gasoline and diesel to lubricants and alternative fuels. With increasingly complex samples and tightening industry standards, conventional methods can fall short in consistency, speed, and safety.

In this realm the OptiDist® 2 from PAC stands out as a next-generation analyzer designed to streamline distillation testing.

Designed for Today’s Labs

The OptiDist® 2 combines advanced automation with built-in safety features to deliver unmatched reliability. Its unique thermosyphon cooling system (sealed and maintenance-free) ensures stable condensate control, while a dual-optimizer heating system tracks both sample and vapor temperatures in real time. This allows for precise, repeatable results – even with unknown or difficult samples.

Starting a test is remarkably simple. Operators can initiate a run with just three steps: enter the sample info, select the method, and press start. The system automatically configures heating parameters for optimal results, and QR-coded flasks eliminate glassware setup errors. It’s ideal for both high-throughput quality control and complex R&D environments.

In addition, it integrates easily with PAC's PACe software ecosystem, enabling real-time monitoring, full traceability, and compatibility with LIMS platforms – ensuring your lab always stays connected and compliant.

Safe, Smart, and Compliant

OptiDist® 2 is built with user safety in mind. Integrated VOC extraction, fire detection, and automatic suppression systems protect both operators and instruments. The instrument is fully compliant with ASTM D86, ASTM D86, D1078, D850, IP195, IP123, DIN51751, EN ISO3405, JIS K2254, ISO918, D524, D4350 standards.