DETERMINATION OF ZINC BY FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY IN UNBURNED AND BURNED VENEZUELAN CRUDE OIL

The concentration of zinc in unburned and burned Venezuelan crude oil over the temperature range of 25–1000°C was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The zinc concentration in the unburned crude oil was found to be approximately one part per million and remained relatively constant until around 700°C. At temperatures in excess of 800°C, all the zinc was removed from the crude oil. This suggests that if the temperature in burning crude oil can exceed the boiling points of the metals or metal form, then they will be removed via smoke into the atmosphere.