Neutron Activation Analysis of Residual Oil for Vanadium

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis is investigated as a nondestructive method of analyzing large residual oil samples for vanadium content in the 20–2000 ppm range. For a flux of 10 8 neutrons/cm 2 · sec, a 10 min analysis of a 3 g oil sample can yield concentration measurements that are reproducible to within a maximum deviation of 7% for a wide latitude of experimental conditions with no sample preparation. The adaption of neutron activation analysis herein investigated has several features that make it attractive as a means of on-line process control in petroleum cracking plants.