Background

Sulfur content is regulated in many petroleum fuels oils,and plays an important role in fuel quality and control of polluting emissions. In the 1970s, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) formed its ship pollution rules at the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, known as MARPOL 73/78. Since, the allowed sulfur content of bunker fuels has continued to decline in the open seas and in areas referred to as Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECAs). SECAs are defined protected areas in which only low sulfur bunker fuels and marine diesels can be used. Therefore, it is critical to monitor the sulfur content to ensure regulatory compliance and to improve air quality, affecting those utilizing as well as producing and supplying bunker fuels. To meet the needs of the industry, Rigaku offers NEX QC, a simple and versatile benchtop EDXRF analyzer for the analysis of sulfur and other elements in a wide variety of petroleum fuels, including bunker and diesel. NEX QC is an important tool to meet the requirements for monitoring sulfur at these various levels, with the ability to measure sulfur over a broad range of concentrations and into the future as sulfur levels become even lower.