Objective In view of ISO 19739: 2004 Natural gas—Determination of sulfur compounds using gas chromatography has not been revised since its publication in 2004, the main problems existing in ISO 19739: 2004 are put forward and suggestions for revision are given.

Methods In order to support the revision of ISO 19739:2004, the accuracy of total sulfur content determined using chromatography is verified by comparing with the value of standard gas certificate, the determination result of ISO 16960: 2014 Natural gas—Determination of sulfur compounds—Determination of total sulfur by oxidative microcoulometry method and the determination result of ISO 20729: 2017 Natural gas—Determination of sulfur compounds—Determination of total sulfur content by ultraviolet fluorescence method; According to ISO 4259: 2006 Petroleum products—Determination and application of precision data in relation to methods of test, preliminary precision test research was carried out.

Results The total sulfur content determined using chromatography is in good agreement with the standard gas certificate value, the determination results of ISO 16960: 2014 and ISO 20729: 2017.

Conclusions The determination of total sulfur in natural gas using chromatography is accurate and reliable; It is suggested to revise ISO 19739: 2004, which are to specifying in the scope of the standard can be used for the determination and calculation of total sulfur content, and giving the calculation formula of total sulfur in the standard; It is suggested that in the next revision process, to carry out precision test and research according to ISO 4259.1: 2017 Petroleum and related products—Precision of measurement methods and results—Part 1: Determination of precision data in relation to methods of test, increase the precision regulations from seven sulfur compounds to more than ten, so as to expand the scope of standard precision regulations; It is suggested to strengthen the development of multi-component sulfur compound gas reference materials and the certification of national reference materials, so as to provide basic conditions for the subsequent revision of ISO 19739: 2004.