Petroleum/Chemicals Application Guide

Importance of the Topic

Comprehensive hydrocarbon separation and analysis by gas chromatography (GC) underpin quality control, process monitoring, and environmental compliance across petroleum refining, petrochemicals, fuels, and specialty chemicals. Precise resolution of paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins, aromatics, and naphthenes (PIANO/PONA) informs formulation, blending, and regulatory testing, while accurate simulated distillation (SIMDIS) supports boiling range distribution measurements. Innovations in capillary columns, packed columns, and gas–solid chromatographic phases have significantly expanded analytical capabilities for light gases, gasoline-range organics, oxygenates, and high-boiling compounds.

Objectives and Study Overview

This guide surveys Supelco’s chromatography phases, columns, and application methods for hydrocarbon analysis by GC, including:

• High-resolution separations of PIANO components (ASTM D5134)
• Light hydrocarbon gas analyses at ambient and subambient temperatures
• Wide-bore capillary solutions for packed-column GC compatibility
• Oxygenate quantification in reformulated and lead-free gasolines
• Simulated distillation by packed (ASTM D3710/D2887) and capillary columns
• Aromatic/aliphatic, polar compounds, and trace impurity monitoring
• Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of polymers

Methodology and Instrumentation

Primary techniques rely on GC with flame ionization detection (FID) or thermal conductivity detection (TCD), using carrier gases (helium or hydrogen) and split/splitless or on-column injection. Key instrumentation elements include:

• Nonpolar capillary columns (Petrocol™ DH family – methyl-silicone phases) for PIANO/PIANO analyses, light gas separations, and gasoline composition
• Wide-bore capillaries (SPB-1, SPB-5, Nukol™) enabling use in standard packed-column GCs, with minimal sample discrimination and robust phase films (0.5–5 µm)
• Polar bonded phases (SUPELCOWAX™ 10) for aromatic/aliphatic and residual solvent separations, including USP/EU OVI methods
• High-temperature phases (HT-5) and packed column standards (Petrocol A/B) tailored to ASTM SIMDIS (D3710, D2887) applications
• Porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns (Carbopack™, Carboxen™, HayeSep®) for permanent and light gas analyses, oxygenates, sulfur compounds, and trace ammonia
• Gel permeation columns (SUPELCOSIL™ LC series) for polymer molecular weight distributions
• Standardized hydrocarbon mixes (quantitative and qualitative) for calibration of PIANO, SIMDIS, BTEX, PVOCs/GROs, DROs, and oxygenate methods

Main Results and Discussion

Extensive column performance data illustrate:

• High plate counts (5,000–6,000 plates/m) for 50 m Petrocol DH capillaries, enabling baseline resolution of closely eluting paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins, aromatics, and naphthenes
• Exceptional light gas separations on DH 150 (150 m, 1 µm film) at ambient or subambient initial temperatures (–20 °C) for C1–C6 gases and oxygenates
• Wide-bore capillary columns achieving sharp, symmetrical peaks for oxygenates, trace sulfur gases, and high-boiling petroleum fractions in packed-column GCs
• Improved boiling point linearity and minimal bleed in SIMDIS on capillary Petrocol 3710/2887 columns compared to packed columns, enhancing accuracy of IBP, FBP, and distillation cuts
• Polar and high-temperature phases (SUPELCOWAX 10 and HT-5) resolving residual solvents, phenols, and oxygenates with minimal decomposition or tailing
• Porous polymers (HayeSep series) providing reproducible gas–solid separations of permanent gases, CO, CO2, light hydrocarbons, amines, and moisture

Benefits and Practical Applications

These advanced chromatographic solutions deliver:

• Faster, more efficient separations of complex hydrocarbon mixtures in fuels, lubricants, and petrochemical streams
• Enhanced detection of trace impurities (sulfolane, MTBE contaminants, phenols) for environmental and industrial compliance
• Reliable simulated distillation workflows for refinery cut point monitoring and product specification
• Robust, interchangeable columns for both capillary and packed GC systems, reducing retraining and method redevelopment
• Customizable calibration standards and kits for method validation, instrument qualification, and round-robin studies

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include:

• Integration of high-resolution ultra-fast GC and multidimensional GC×GC for even greater peak capacity and peak detectability
• Advances in polymer-based phases with enhanced selectivity for novel biomarkers, bio-derived oxygenates, and renewable hydrocarbons
• Increased coupling of GC with mass spectrometry and new detectors (e.g., chemiluminescence for sulfur, PFPD for phosphorus) for multi-elemental analysis
• Automation and portable GC systems leveraging wide-bore capillaries and PLOT columns for field-based hydrocarbon and VOC monitoring
• Digital retention index libraries and AI-driven peak identification to streamline method development and spectral deconvolution

Conclusion

Supelco’s broad range of chromatographic phases, columns, and calibrated reference standards offers a complete toolkit for high-performance hydrocarbon analysis across industries. By selecting the appropriate column chemistry, dimensions, and conditions—capillary or packed—analysts can achieve rapid, reproducible separations tailored to ASTM, EPA, USP, and industrial methods. Ongoing phase and instrument innovations will continue to expand analytical capability for complex and evolving petrochemical challenges.

Reference

No specific literature references were provided in the source text.