Development and Evaluation of Analytical Techniques for Total Chlorine in Used Oils and Oil Fuels

Abstract

A current EPA regulation prohibits the sale for burning in nonindustrial boilers of used oils and oil fuels contaminated above specified levels with total chlorine. Analytical techniques for determining total chlorine were evaluated to provide regulatory agencies and the regulated community with appropriate chlorine test methods. The techniques evaluated included oxygen bomb combustion followed by chemical titrations or ion chromatography, instrumental microcoulometry, field test kits, an instrumental furnace/specific ion electrode determinator, a device based on the Beilstein reaction, and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. These techniques were subjected to interlaboratory testing to estimate their precision, accuracy, and sensitivity. Virgin and used crankcase oils, hydraulic and metalworking oils, oil fuels and oil fuel blends with used oils were tested. The bomb techniques, one of the test kits, microcoulometry and all but one x-ray analyzer were found to be suitable for this application. The chlorine furnace and the Beilstein device were found to be inapplicable at the levels of interest. The second test kit is being modified at this time.