ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbonyl Sulfide, Methyl Mercaptan, Carbon Disulfide and Total Sulfur in Hydrogen Fuel by Gas Chromatography and Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detection
 N D7652

Annotation

This test method describes a procedure primarily for the determination of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and carbon disulfide (Table 1) in hydrogen fuels for fuel cell vehicles (FCV) by gas chromatograph with sulfur chemiluminescence detection. The reporting limit is 0.02 ppbv (nanomole per mole as volume), based upon the analysis of a 500 mL hydrogen sample. The procedures described in this method were designed to satisfy sulfur contaminant determination requirements contained in SAE TIR J2719 and the California Code of Regulations, CFR , Title 4, Division 9, Chapter 6, Article 8, Sections 4180 – 4181.

This test method can be extended to other sulfur species in hydrogen fuel that are eluted through a chromatographic column.

This test method can be modified to analyze all sulfur compounds present without chromatographic separation; thus, providing a total sulfur estimation without speciation (Appendix X1).

If any new sulfur compounds need to be analyzed in hydrogen fuel, the calibration or spiking sulfur standards must include these new compounds after their method detection limit study. In addition, no co-elution is allowed in the chromatographic analysis of the calibration standard containing both the newly added and the existing sulfur target compounds. If necessary, the chromatographic conditions may be modified to achieve this goal.

Although, primarily intended for determining sulfur in hydrogen used as a fuel for fuel cell or internal combustion engine powered vehicles, this test method can also be used to measure sulfur compounds in other gaseous fuels and gaseous matrices provided data quality objectives are satisfied.