Evaluation of Carbon Rod Atomizer for Routine Analysis of Vanadium in Crude Oil by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

The Carbon Rod Atomizer (CRA) was evaluated for routine trace analysis of vanadium in crude oil by atomic absorption spectroscopy with a carbon (graphite) tube as a micro-furnace. Two crude oil samples were analyzed, both by standard addition and standard working curve methods, and the results confirmed by analysis with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy using a fuel-rich nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. Because of the relative involatility of vanadium at the temperature of the CRA, quantitative recoveries of vanadium in crude oil occur only when the vanadium content of the sample injected into the CRA does not exceed the limit of about 1 × 10^?8 g. A sensitivity (weight/1% absorption) of 7.0 × 10^?11 g and detection limit (signal-to-root-mean-square-noise equal to two) of 6.9 × 10^?12 are reported.