GC solutions for Petrochemistry and Refining

Importance of the Topic

Gas chromatography remains a cornerstone analytical technique in petrochemical and refining operations. Precise hydrocarbon and sulfur profiling is essential for process control, product quality assurance and regulatory compliance. Advances in sampling, column technology and detector design further enhance sensitivity, selectivity and throughput in complex refinery matrices.

Study Objectives and Overview

This whitepaper presents a comprehensive portfolio of Shimadzu GC solutions tailored to the hydrocarbon processing industry. It aims to illustrate instrumentation configurations, standardized methods (ASTM, ISO, GPA), performance benchmarks and application case studies across natural gas, refinery gas, LPG, simulated distillation and trace sulfur analysis.

Methodology and Instrumentation Used

The study employs multiple injection techniques and detector combinations to meet diverse analytical challenges:

• Gas sampling valve with fixed loop, AOC-20i/30i autosamplers for liquid and gas injection
• OCI-2030NX on-column injector for high-temperature simulated distillation
• Cryogenic trapping (LCO2) for volatile component focusing
• Shimadzu GC-2030 platform coupled with FID, TCD and dual TCD/FID channels
• SCD-2030 sulfur chemiluminescence detector with horizontal redox cell for trace sulfur profiling

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance indicators demonstrate robust sensitivity and reproducibility across applications:

• Refinery Gas Analyzer achieved detection limits down to 0.17 ppm (C6+) and RSDs below 1 % for permanent gases by TCD and hydrocarbons by FID.
• LPG analysis via liquid sampling valve recorded ppb-level LODs (210–470 ppb) and RSDs <3 % for C2–C5 components.
• Simulated distillation methods (ASTM D2887, D7500) produced boiling point curves with deviations <1 °C across C5–C110 fractions and passed acceptance criteria for reference materials.
• SCD-2030 delivered sub-ppb sulfur detection (LOD 4.9–13.1 ppb), interday RSDs <2 % and equimolar response across nine sulfur species.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Method

The integrated GC solutions offer:

• Comprehensive hydrocarbon and sulfur profiling in gaseous and liquid streams.
• High throughput through automated injection, conditioning and shutdown sequences.
• Enhanced selectivity using dual-detector configurations and cryogenic focusing.
• Reliable compliance with industry standards for product characterization and process monitoring.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s modular GC platforms and specialized detectors enable precise, reproducible analysis in complex hydrocarbon processing matrices. The synergy of advanced injection systems, stable liquid phases and high-performance detectors supports diverse ASTM and ISO methods, ensuring data integrity and operational efficiency.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging directions include:

• Integration of two-dimensional GC (GC×GC) for deeper compositional insights.
• AI-driven chromatographic optimization and predictive maintenance.
• Miniaturized, field-deployable GC systems for on-site process control.
• Further automation of conditioning and calibration routines to minimize downtime.