Sulfur, quantitation

Recovery of Organic Sulfur. Quantitative analysis can be accomplished provided that all the sulfur present in the form of each group is reduced to H2S. It is also assumed that the distribution does not change during the analysis and that all the H2S released is detected and determined. 

In no case is the sulfur quantit absorbed greater than that corresponding to the formula NbSg. No preparative methods are known as yet for NbS 3. Traces of this compound are formed during the preparation of other niobium sulfides. The heating of mixtures low in sulfur should be occasionally Interrupted, the Intermediate product repulverized and remixed, then replaced in the evacuated tube, and the heating continued. 

Mass spectrometry allows analysis by hydrocarbon family for a variety of petroleum cuts as deep as vacuum distillates since we have seen that the molecules must be vaporized. The study of vacuum residues can be conducted by a method of direct introduction which we will address only briefly because the quantitative aspects are ek r metiy difficult to master. Table 3.6 gives some examples the matrices used differ according to the distillation cut and the chemical content such as the presence or absence of olefins or sulfur. 

When the 2-hydroxy group of a monosaccharide reacts with (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (DAST), quantitative and stereoselective rearrangements are observed (K.C Nico-laou, 1986). This reaction may simultaneously introduce fluorine to C-1 and a new oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen residue to C-2 with inversion of configuration. 

IS reversible but can be driven to completion by several techniques Removing the water formed m the reaction for example allows benzene sulfonic acid to be obtained m vir tually quantitative yield When a solution of sulfur trioxide m sulfuric acid is used as the sulfonatmg agent the rate of sulfonation is much faster and the equilibrium is dis placed entirely to the side of products according to the equation... 

Sulfur can be determined quantitatively by oxidizing to S04 and precipitating as BaS04. The solubility reaction for BaS04 is... 

SHica—alumina has been studied most extensively. Dehydrated sHica—alumina is inactive as isomerisation catalyst but addition of water increases activity until a maximum is reached additional water then decreases activity. The effect of water suggests that Brmnsted acidity is responsible for catalyst activity (207). SHica—alumina is quantitatively at least as acidic as 90% sulfuric acid (208). 

The reaction proceeds quantitatively and the hydroiodic acid can be removed by repeated distillation at 5.3 kPa (40 mm Hg), leaving pure H2PO2 as the product. Phosphinic acid may also be prepared by the treatment of barium hypophosphite [14871-79-5] with a stoichiometric quantity of sulfuric acid to precipitate barium sulfate. 

Reaction with cold nitric acid results primarily ia the formation of 5-nitrosahcyhc acid [96-97-9]. However, reaction with fuming nitric acid results ia decarboxylation as well as the formation of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol [88-89-1] (picric acid). Sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid at 160°C yields 5-sulfosahcyhc acid [56507-30-3]. At higher temperatures (180°C) and with an excess of chlorosulfonic acid, 3,5-disulfosahcyhc acid forms. Sulfonation with hquid sulfur trioxide ia tetrachloroethylene leads to a nearly quantitative yield of 5-sulfosahcylc acid (1). 

A number of substances, such as the most commonly used sulfur dioxide, can reduce selenous acid solution to an elemental selenium precipitate. This precipitation separates the selenium from most elements and serves as a basis for gravimetry. In a solution containing both selenous and teUurous acids, the selenium may be quantitatively separated from the latter by performing the reduction in a solution which is 8 to 9.5 W with respect to hydrochloric acid. When selenic acid may also be present, the addition of hydroxylamine hydrochloride is recommended along with the sulfur dioxide. A simple method for the separation and deterrnination of selenium(IV) and molybdenum(VI) in mixtures, based on selective precipitation with potassium thiocarbonate, has been developed (69). 

Although silver iodide is the least photosensitive of the three halides, it has the broadest wavelength sensitivity in the visible spectmm. This feature makes silver iodide particularly useful in the photographic industry. It resists reduction by metals, but is reduced quantitatively by zinc and iron in the presence of sulfuric acid. 

Colorimetric Methods. Numerous colorimetric methods exist for the quantitative determination of carbohydrates as a group (8). Among the most popular of these is the phenol—sulfuric acid method of Dubois (9), which rehes on the color formed when a carbohydrate reacts with phenol in the presence of hot sulfuric acid. The test is sensitive for virtually all classes of carbohydrates. Colorimetric methods are usually employed when a very small concentration of carbohydrate is present, and are often used in clinical situations. The Somogyi method, of which there are many variations, rehes on the reduction of cupric sulfate to cuprous oxide and is appHcable to reducing sugars. 

Quantitatively, sulfur in a free or combined state is generally determined by oxidizing it to a soluble sulfate, by fusion with an alkaH carbonate if necessary, and precipitating it as insoluble barium sulfate. Oxidation can be effected with such agents as concentrated or fuming nitric acid, bromine, sodium peroxide, potassium nitrate, or potassium chlorate. Free sulfur is normally determined by solution in carbon disulfide, the latter being distilled from the extract. This method is not useful if the sample contains polymeric sulfur. 

The practical importance of the higher sulfanes relates to their formation in sour-gas wells from sulfur and hydrogen sulfide under pressure and their subsequent decomposition which causes well plugging (134). The formation of high sulfanes in the recovery of sulfur by the Claus process also may lead to persistance of traces of hydrogen sulfide in the sulfur thus produced (100). Quantitative deteanination of H2S and H2S in Claus process sulfur requires the use of a catalyst, eg, PbS, to accelerate the breakdown of H2S (135). 

Addition of sodium dithionite to formaldehyde yields the sodium salt of hydroxymethanesulfinic acid [79-25-4] H0CH2S02Na, which retains the useful reducing character of the sodium dithionite although somewhat attenuated in reactivity. The most important organic chemistry of sodium dithionite involves its use in reducing dyes, eg, anthraquinone vat dyes, sulfur dyes, and indigo, to their soluble leuco forms (see Dyes, anthraquinone). Dithionite can reduce various chromophores that are not reduced by sulfite. Dithionite can be used for the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to alcohols (348). Quantitative studies have been made of the reduction potential of dithionite as a function of pH and the concentration of other salts (349,350). 

Later it was synthesized in a batch process from dimethyl ether and sulfur thoxide (93) and this combination was adapted for continuous operation. Gaseous dimethyl ether was bubbled at 15.4 kg/h into the bottom of a tower 20 cm in diameter and 365 cm high and filled with the reaction product dimethyl sulfate. Liquid sulfur thoxide was introduced at 26.5 kg/h at the top of the tower. The mildly exothermic reaction was controlled at 45—47°C, and the reaction product (96—97 wt % dimethyl sulfate, sulfuhc acid, and methyl hydrogen sulfate) was continuously withdrawn and purified by vacuum distillation over sodium sulfate. The yield was almost quantitative, and the product was a clear, colorless, mobile Hquid. A modified process is deschbed in Reference 94. Properties are Hsted in Table 3. 

A simplified diagram representing the various reservoirs and transport mechanisms and pathways involved in the cycles of nutrient elements at and above the surface of the Earth is given in Eigure 1. The processes are those considered to be the most important in the context of this article, but others of lesser significance can be postulated. Eor some of the elements, notably carbon, sulfur, chlorine, and nitrogen, considerable research has been done to evaluate (quantitatively) the amount of the various elements in the reservoirs and the rates of transfer. 

Trialkyl- and triarylarsine sulfides have been prepared by several different methods. The reaction of sulfur with a tertiary arsine, with or without a solvent, gives the sulfides in almost quantitative yields. Another method involves the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with a tertiary arsine oxide, hydroxyhahde, or dihaloarsorane. X-ray diffraction studies of triphenylarsine sulfide [3937-40-4], C gH AsS, show the arsenic to be tetrahedral the arsenic—sulfur bond is a tme double bond (137). Triphenylarsine sulfide and trimethylarsine sulfide [38859-90-4], C H AsS, form a number of coordination compounds with salts of transition elements (138,139). Both trialkyl- and triarylarsine selenides have been reported. The trialkyl compounds have been prepared by refluxing trialkylarsines with selenium powder (140). The preparation of triphenylarsine selenide [65374-39-2], C gH AsSe, from dichlorotriphenylarsorane and hydrogen selenide has been reported (141), but other workers could not dupHcate this work (140). 

Assay of beryUium metal and beryUium compounds is usuaUy accompHshed by titration. The sample is dissolved in sulfuric acid. Solution pH is adjusted to 8.5 using sodium hydroxide. The beryUium hydroxide precipitate is redissolved by addition of excess sodium fluoride. Liberated hydroxide is titrated with sulfuric acid. The beryUium content of the sample is calculated from the titration volume. Standards containing known beryUium concentrations must be analyzed along with the samples, as complexation of beryUium by fluoride is not quantitative. Titration rate and hold times ate critical therefore use of an automatic titrator is recommended. Other fluotide-complexing elements such as aluminum, sUicon, zirconium, hafnium, uranium, thorium, and rate earth elements must be absent, or must be corrected for if present in smaU amounts. Copper-beryUium and nickel—beryUium aUoys can be analyzed by titration if the beryUium is first separated from copper, nickel, and cobalt by ammonium hydroxide precipitation (15,16). 

Impurities in bromine may be deterrnined quantitatively (54). Weighing the residue after evaporation of a bromine sample yields the total nonvolatile matter. After removing the bromine, chloride ion may be deterrnined by titration with mercuric nitrate, and iodide ion by titration with thiosulfate water and organic compounds may be detected by infrared spectroscopy sulfur may be deterrnined turbidimetricaHy as barium sulfate and heavy metals may be deterrnined colorimetricaHy after conversion to sulfides. 

Bromine is used as an analytical reagent to determine the amount of unsaturation in organic compounds because carbon—carbon double bonds add bromine quantitatively, and for phenols which add bromine in the ortho and para positions. Standard bromine is added in excess and the amount unreacted is deterrnined by an indirect iodine titration. Bromine is also used to oxidize several elements, such as T1(I) to T1(III). Excess bromine is removed by adding phenol. Bromine plus an acid, such as nitric and/or hydrochloric, provides an oxidizing acid mixture usefiil in dissolving metal or mineral samples prior to analysis for sulfur. 

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