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Owlstones Lonestar Analyzer provides an accurate, portable and easy-to-use means for nonspecialist personnel to carry out real-time, at-line monitoring of H2S scavengers and their reaction
by-products.
If we wish to change which ions pass through the filter, we can apply an additional DC compensation
voltage (CV) across the channel, which will result in an additional drift velocity towards one of the sides.
The strength of the compensation voltage necessary to allow a particular ion to pass through the filter
depends on the difference between its high- and low-field mobilities, and this is how FAIMS can be used to
test for particular substances. By applying the compensation voltage for the substance we are interested in,
and then measuring whether an ion current is produced at the end of the channel, we can test whether
that substance is present.
HHTT, MEA and dithiazine all pass through the system at different compensation voltages, so the amounts
of each present in a particular crude oil sample can be determined by measuring the ion currents at their
respective compensation voltages. Calibration for each compound is carried out by measuring the ion
current produced by a range of samples of known concentrations, and then interpolating the results.
Figure 6 shows the calibration curve for triazine (HHTT) in crude oil. The limit of detection for the system is
taken to be 3x the standard deviation of the background noise, which in this case is equivalent to
approximately 0.2 A.U. Thus, triazine can be detected down to 3ppm with this setup.
Figure 6 - Calibration curve for Eagle Ford crude, showing detection of HHTT down to 3ppm.
Figure 7 - Scavenger with 25 ppm of dithiazine and MEA added, showing capacity for simultaneous
measurement.
Figure 8 is a calibration curve for dithiazine, showing detection and quantification down to 25ppm.
3
y = 0.012x + 0.032
R = 0.991
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0
50
100
150
200
250
Conclusion
By detecting and quantifying (HHTT) triazine and MEA in crude oil, and triazine, MEA and dithiazine in
water, Lonestar provides the means to monitor the entire scavenging process and prevent potentially
expensive fouling by amorphous dithiazine.
Lonestar Specifications
Technology
Analytes
Dynamic range
3-600ppm
Accuracy
Analysis time
<10 min
Calibration frequency
6 months