Separation and quantification of olefins and diolefins in cracked petroleum fractions using silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

A method using normal phase high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of olefins and diolefins in cracked petroleum samples is proposed and validated in this work. A silver-impregnated silica column is used to separate olefin and diolefin species, resulting in accurate quantification of both group-types. Separations are completed using an isocratic hexane mobile phase, with no sample clean up or backflushing required. Results from the analysis of 11 model compounds are shown, as well as quantification data for four representative samples; figures of merit are also described.

Keywords:

• HPLC
• petroleum
• olefins
• silver
• quantification

Acknowledgements

N.H. would like to thank Nathan Paisley for his hard work and good humor during the early stages of this project - this work could not have been completed without him. The authors also thank Xiaomeng Wang for her helpful technical review.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Resources Canada and the government of Canada’s interdepartmental Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD) under grant P-002370.001.