Analysis of trace metals in petroleum products, state of the art

Art-Following a brief introduction to the problems posed by trace metals in the petroleum industry, a review of the three main techniques available for trace metals determination is presented, with their recent developments. Different introduction modes, used for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry, are discussed and compared in terms of detection limits. Applications are various and apply to all kinds of petroleum products, from bioethanol to the More common gasoline and diesel, and also to heavier products such as bitumen. A review of the main chromatographic techniques coupled with ICP demonstrates the promise of these techniques for the failure in terms of speciation of trace metals ill petroleum products.