An embodiment provides a method for measuring sulfate in an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample containing an amount of sulfate to a barium dye complex, thereby creating a solution; adding a clarifying agent to the solution, thereby causing the solution to be clarified; and measuring the amount of sulfate in the aqueous sample by measuring a change in color of the solution, the change in color caused by the barium dye complex mixing with the sulfate. Other aspects are described and claimed.

An embodiment provides a method for measuring sulfate in an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample containing an amount of sulfate to a barium dye complex, thereby creating a solution; adding a clarifying agent to the solution, thereby causing the solution to be clarified; and measuring the amount of sulfate in the aqueous sample by measuring a change in color of the solution, the change in color caused by the barium dye complex mixing with the sulfate. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Systems and methods are provided for determining an asphaltene solubility distribution for a petroleum sample and/or other hydrocarbon sample. A vessel for performing the method can include both packing material(s) and sidewall(s) that correspond to substantially inert materials. The vessel can initially contain a precipitating solvent suitable for causing precipitation of asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon sample. Examples of a precipitating solvents can correspond to n-heptane, toluene, and mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. The petroleum sample is then introduced into the vessel, along with a carrier solvent. The volume of the precipitating solvent can be large relative to the sample, so that the solubility of asphaltenes in the sample becomes dependent on the properties of the precipitating solvent. If asphaltenes are precipitated, the asphaltenes can be washed out of the column using a dissolution solvent. The asphaltenes washed out using the dissolution solvent can then be characterized to determine a total asphaltene content.

Systems and methods are provided for determining an asphaltene solubility distribution for a petroleum sample and/or other hydrocarbon sample. A vessel for performing the method can include both packing material(s) and sidewall(s) that correspond to substantially inert materials. The vessel can initially contain a precipitating solvent suitable for causing precipitation of asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon sample. Examples of a precipitating solvents can correspond to n-heptane, toluene, and mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. The petroleum sample is then introduced into the vessel, along with a carrier solvent. The volume of the precipitating solvent can be large relative to the sample, so that the solubility of asphaltenes in the sample becomes dependent on the properties of the precipitating solvent. If asphaltenes are precipitated, the asphaltenes can be washed out of the column using a dissolution solvent. The asphaltenes washed out using the dissolution solvent can then be characterized to determine a total asphaltene content.

An analytical method for precipitated particles using a co-precipitation reaction in includes feeding streams and a tracking metal into a reaction vessel; collecting a precipitated product containing the tracking metal from the reaction vessel in increments of time to obtain product samples; filtering each collected product sample to separate precipitated particles from filtrate; and performing elemental analysis for the tracking metal in the precipitated particles of each collected product sample and measuring a concentration of the tracking metal in the precipitated particles, to obtain a residence time distribution of the precipitated particles in the reaction vessel according to the concentration of the tracking metal in the precipitated particles. Therefore the preferred residence time of the precipitated particles in the reaction vessel can be ascertained, so that it is clear when the precipitated particles should be collected from the reaction vessel.

An analytical method for precipitated particles using a co-precipitation reaction in includes feeding streams and a tracking metal into a reaction vessel; collecting a precipitated product containing the tracking metal from the reaction vessel in increments of time to obtain product samples; filtering each collected product sample to separate precipitated particles from filtrate; and performing elemental analysis for the tracking metal in the precipitated particles of each collected product sample and measuring a concentration of the tracking metal in the precipitated particles, to obtain a residence time distribution of the precipitated particles in the reaction vessel according to the concentration of the tracking metal in the precipitated particles. Therefore the preferred residence time of the precipitated particles in the reaction vessel can be ascertained, so that it is clear when the precipitated particles should be collected from the reaction vessel.

An embodiment provides a method for measuring ions in a solution, including: preparing a measurement device comprising an active indicator, wherein the active indicator comprises a silver complex; introducing the measurement device to a solution, wherein the silver complex reacts with the solution and generates a precipitation comprising one of the elements selected from the group consisting of: silver chloride, silver sulfide, and mixtures thereof; and measuring an amount of one of the elements selected from the group consisting of: chloride and sulfide, in the solution, wherein the measuring comprises identifying a peak of the precipitation on a portion of the measurement device and comparing the peak to a measurement chart.

An embodiment provides a method for measuring ions in a solution, including: preparing a measurement device comprising an active indicator, wherein the active indicator comprises a silver complex; introducing the measurement device to a solution, wherein the silver complex reacts with the solution and generates a precipitation comprising one of the elements selected from the group consisting of: silver chloride, silver sulfide, and mixtures thereof; and measuring an amount of one of the elements selected from the group consisting of: chloride and sulfide, in the solution, wherein the measuring comprises identifying a peak of the precipitation on a portion of the measurement device and comparing the peak to a measurement chart.

A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field.

A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field.