Direct determination and quantification of sulphur forms in heavy petroleum and coals: 2. The sulphur K edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy approach

A sulphur K edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic method has been developed for the direct determination and quantification of the sulphidic and thiophenic forms of organically bound sulphur in non-volatile petroleum and coal samples. XANES spectra were taken of a number of model compounds, mixtures of model compounds, heavy petroleum and coal samples. A third-derivative analysis of these spectra allowed approximate quantification of the sulphidic and thiophenic components of the model mixtures and the heavy petroleum and coal samples.