ANALYSIS OF SULFUR IN CARBONACEOUS COMPOUNDS BY LASER MICROPROBE MASS-SPECTROMETRY AND TEMPERATURE-PROGRAMMED OXIDATIVE PYROLYSIS

The laser microprobe coupled with mass spectrometry and the temperatur e-programmed oxidative pyrolysis technique are used to analyse sulfur in a range of solid carbonaceous samples containing increasing amounts of sulfur (0.54-5.44% by weight). The results of both techniques are analysed by principal component analysis and multiple linear regressio n to determine significant mass spectral peaks and in order to establi sh the correlation between thermal analysis data and mass spectral int ensities. The results demonstrate the potential of laser microprobe/ma ss spectrometry as an analytical tool for sulfur determination in soli ds.