Abstract

To estimate the weight percents of certain nonmetal elements in organic compounds found in petroleum reservoirs, the Bureau of Mines designed and constructed a controlled-atmosphere plasma are which effectively excludes air from the plasma. Selected organic compounds that contained nonmetal elements were mixed with a solvent essentially free of those elements. The weight percents of the nonmetal elements were estimated from the produced diatomic spectral bands; results were reasonably accurate. Analytical working curves were prepared for nitrogen in the range from 15 to 450 μg for 100 mg samples using the analytical carbon–nitrogen band at 3883 Å and the internal standard carbon–carbon band at 3607 Å. Curves also were prepared for hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen that had limited sensitivity to detection. Another indicated application of this plasma arc is for characterization of high-boiling petroleum fractions in liquid chromatographic effluents. The rates at which diatomic species are produced and destroyed directly influence the intensity of each corresponding band spectrum.

Carbon Arc in a Controlled Atmosphere as a Radiation Standard*

Robert R. Jayroe and R. G. Fowler
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Effects of Inert Atmospheres on Emission Spectra in the Interrupted Arc

H. Stone
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 44(5) 411-413 (1954)

Simple Device to Control the Atmosphere for Arc Spectroscopy

J. W. Mellichamp
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 46(5) 359_1-360 (1956)

Atmospheric air plasma sustainment by semiconductor microwave for hydroxyl radical production and powder metal element analysis

Yuji Ikeda
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Determination of Phosphorus and Sulfur in Fuel Rich Air–Hydrogen Flames

Augusta Syty and John A. Dean
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