Patent ID: 9068910
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of preparing a petroleum sample having an inorganic contaminant species for use with one or more of elemental and isotopic signature analysis, comprising: (a) adding a first demulsifier to the petroleum sample, said first demulsifier having a known concentration of a specified hydrocarbon-soluble elemental species referred to as a species of interest; (b) separating the petroleum sample into one or more intermediate organic fractions and one or more inorganic fractions; (c) mixing the one or more intermediate organic fractions with (i) a solvent in which the inorganic contaminant species is soluble and the solvent has a known concentration of the species of interest, and (ii) a second demulsifier having a known concentration of the species of interest; (d) separating the one or more intermediate organic fractions into one or more prepared organic fractions and one or more solvent-based fractions; and (e) determining at least one of an elemental signature and an isotopic signature from the one or more prepared organic fractions.