Chromatographic Analysis of Gas Oils for Hydrocarbon Types

Abstract

In analyzing mineral oils, gas oils, etc., in terms of groups of molecules of the same hydrocarbon type, it is desirable to separate the sample into fractions, each of which contains a single hydrocarbon type. Of the separation processes useful for this purpose, chromatography is outstanding. Three chromatographic methods of analysis were examined in a study of the hydrocarbon type composition of a IN THE study of petroleum refining processes it is frequently necessary to determine compositions of liquid hydrocarbons boiling in the gas oil and higher ranges. The approach to the analysis of these petroleum fractions has resolved itself into three lines of attack during recent years-i.e., analysis in terms of individual hydrocarbons, number of carbon atoms in rings and in alkyl chains, and molecular types.

Chromatographic Systems

“…For many solute mixtures, surfaceactive adsorbents should, therefore, exhibit more extensive resolving powers than partition or ion exchange absorbents. An indication of the validity of this conclusion is the effectiveness of surface-active solids for resolution of various complex mixtures, such as petroleum hydrocarbons that are not readily resolved by other sorptive systems (76,97,107,124,125,173).…”

“…Distillation segregates the molecules in relation to size (430). A combination of the two processes provides a new• approach to petroleum fractionation (76,97,107,124,135,277,353,357,397). For inorganic substances, chromatographic behavior is related to the ionic charge, the degree of hydration, and the atomic dimensions and structure (S3, 182, 881-863, 877, 880).…”