Petrochemical Testing and Analysis

Petrochemical Testing: Ensuring Quality and Safety in the Oil and Gas Industry Petrochemical testing encompasses a wide range of laboratory analyses aimed at assessing the quality, performance, and safety of petroleum-based products. As the backbone of the global energy sector,...

by Editorial Team | Feb 23, 2023

Petrochemical Testing: Ensuring Quality and Safety in the Oil and Gas Industry

Petrochemical testing encompasses a wide range of laboratory analyses aimed at assessing the quality, performance, and safety of petroleum-based products. As the backbone of the global energy sector, petrochemicals are crucial in various applications, from fueling our vehicles to manufacturing plastics, synthetic rubber, and other chemical products. Given the critical role of these substances, rigorous testing is essential to meet regulatory standards, protect the environment, and ensure consumer safety. This article provides a brief overview of the key laboratory tests performed in the petrochemical industry.

Types of Petrochemical Tests

1. Composition Analysis: Understanding the chemical makeup of petrochemical products is fundamental. Gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) are commonly used to identify and quantify the various components in crude oil and its derivatives. These analyses help in classifying the oil, predicting its behavior, and determining its suitability for specific applications.

2. Physical Property Testing: The physical characteristics of petrochemicals, such as viscosity, density, boiling point, and flash point, are tested to ensure that products meet specific performance criteria. These properties affect how petrochemicals are transported, processed, and used in end applications.

3. Contaminant Detection: Contaminants in petrochemicals can significantly impact their quality and safety. Laboratory tests are conducted to detect water, sulfur compounds, metals, and other impurities. Techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy are used for this purpose.

4. Quality Control Tests: These tests ensure that petrochemical products meet defined specifications and quality standards. They include octane rating for gasoline, cetane number for diesel, and the analysis of polymers for molecular weight distribution.

5. Environmental and Safety Testing: To comply with environmental regulations and ensure safety, petrochemicals are tested for their potential impact on the environment and human health. This includes measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs), assessing the biodegradability of products, and testing for toxic substances.

The Importance of Petrochemical Testing

Petrochemical testing is vital for several reasons:

Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that products meet local and international regulatory standards.
Quality Assurance: Guaranteeing that petrochemical products are consistent, reliable, and fit for their intended use.
Safety: Protecting workers, consumers, and the environment from potential hazards associated with petrochemicals.
Innovation and Optimization: Supporting the development of new products and the optimization of existing processes.

Other examples of how Contract Laboratory has helped companies with their petrochemical research and testing include:

Materials Laboratory needed for petrochemical analysis: Wax Appearance Temperature in Crude Oil by Cross Polar Microscopy (CPM)
USA Materials Laboratory needed for petrochemical testing: Petrochemical physical property testing for True Vapor Pressure to ASTM D4953, D2879, D 5191
A petrochemical producer needs a laboratory for corrosion inhibitors testing for R&D applications in petrochemical producer including bble test 2. Partitioning test 3. Jet impingement test for low temperature and atmospheric pressure 4. High temperature / high pressure (HP/HT) performance test
USA or South America Laboratory needed for petrochemical testing: 1- isotopes ( total crude, saturates, aromatics ) 460 samples 2- analysis of extended demantoids ( QEDA ) 96 samples 3- Analysis of biomarkers with double spectrometry of masses ( AGC-MS-MS) 90 samples 4- IRGC-MS (CSIA-B)
Europe analytical chemistry laboratory needed for ASTM Testing: Petrochemical testing for Propane analysis for petrochemical use
Texas oil laboratory needed for ASTM Testing: landfill gas Testing of petrochemicals to ASTM 1946M ASTM D5504 ASTM D6667
ANNUAL CONTRACT: Refinery & Petrochemical R&D company needs a materials lab for ASTM hydrocarbon Testing for Octane number reported by the engine test method to ASTM D2688 and ASTM D2700. They said their sample is hydrocarbon with rating of around 120.
East Coast USA Materials Laboratory is needed for ASTM petrochemical sampling and analysis of several petrochemicals. petrochemical solvents in the boiling range of 250 to 450 deg F (D86) ASTM D4367 and/or D6229 We seek to determine the benzene content of a few petrochemical mixtures.
Analytical Laboratory needed for petrochemical testing. We need proficiency testing or laboratory comparison on processing oil or rubber extruder oil. Testing parameters : Group composition according ASTM D 2007 Content of PCA according to IP 346
Petrochemical firm needs Middle East plastics materials laboratory for ASTM Testing 2 samples of PET polymer granules to ASTM D5511-02 Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions equivalent
Petroleum Laboratory needed for ASTM Testing: Petrochemical Testing of Lubricant oil 1- Kinematic Viscosity at -51 oC (ASTM D 2533)2- Dynamic Foaming (FED-STD- 791 method 3214)3-Deposit Test (WDAC) – (FED-STD- 791 method 5003)4- Lead corrosion (g/m2) (FED-STD- 791 method 5321)5- Corrosion test at 23