NEW Zebron™ ZB-Bioethanol GC Columns for Fast and Accurate Bioethan ol Analysis

Significance of the Topic

As global demand for sustainable fuels grows, bioethanol has become an increasingly important automotive additive. Ensuring rapid, reliable quantification of ethanol and its contaminants in denatured fuel blends is essential for regulatory compliance, quality control, and logistical efficiency at production sites.

Study Objectives and Overview

This application note introduces the new Zebron ZB-Bioethanol GC column series, designed to significantly reduce analysis time of ASTM Method D5501 and prEN 15376 procedures. The goal is to resolve methanol and ethanol from gasoline denaturants in under eight minutes on a 30 m column and under five minutes on a 15 m column, without sacrificing accuracy or reproducibility.

Methodology and Instrumentation

A denatured bioethanol sample from corn feedstock was analyzed by gas chromatography under the following conditions:

• Columns tested: 100 m Zebron ZB-1; 30 m and 15 m Zebron ZB-Bioethanol
• Injection: split mode 50:1, 1 µL at 300 °C
• Carrier gas: hydrogen or helium at constant linear velocity
• Oven program optimized for each column length to achieve baseline separation
• Detectors: flame ionization (FID) and mass spectrometry (MSD)

Main Results and Discussion

The ZB-Bioethanol columns delivered complete separation of methanol, ethanol, and denaturant peaks in less than 8 min on the 30 m phase and under 5 min on the 15 m phase, compared to 30 min on a 100 m column. Field sample comparisons showed area percentage correlations within 0.01% between ZB-Bioethanol and the standard ZB-1 column. Day-to-day reproducibility tests yielded relative standard deviations below 1% for both analytes. MS detection confirmed the absence of co-eluting fusel alcohols and gasoline components. Column performance remained consistent when switching between hydrogen and helium carrier gases, underlining robust selectivity of the proprietary stationary phase.

Instrumentation Used

• Shimadzu GC-2010 with AOC-20i autosampler and FID detector
• MSD analysis for interference confirmation

Benefits and Practical Applications

The new Zebron ZB-Bioethanol columns offer:

• Substantial time savings, enabling certificate of analysis before fuel trucks depart
• High accuracy and reproducibility matching established methods
• Compatibility with multiple carrier gases to reduce operational costs
• Enhanced lifetime and stability via Engineered Self Crosslinking™ for high-temperature bake-out of impurities

Future Trends and Possibilities

Advances in GC phase chemistry may further shorten analysis times and improve multiplexed detection of trace biofuel contaminants. Integration with real-time monitoring systems and portable GC instruments could enable on-site testing at production facilities. Ongoing development of ultra-stable, low-bleed phases will support coupling with high-sensitivity MS detectors for expanded biofuel profiling.

Conclusion

The Zebron ZB-Bioethanol GC columns deliver rapid, accurate, and reproducible analysis of denatured bioethanol, meeting industry standards while offering significant operational advantages. Their robust performance, carrier gas flexibility, and high temperature stability position them as an efficient solution for modern biofuel quality control.

Reference

• ASTM Method D5501: Determination of Denatured Bioethanol
• prEN 15376: European Standard for Ethanol Analysis in Denatured Fuels