PEFTEC - Abstract

Abstract Information :

The application of flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) in combination with both, flame ionization (FID) and Vacuum-Ultraviolet (VUV) detection (VGA-100; VUV Analytics Inc.) was tested for the analysis of common gasolines and middle distillates as well as crude oil distillation cuts. For this approach, an INSIGHT® flow modulation system from SepSolve Analytical and a combination of a semi-polar column in the 1st dimension and a non-polar column in the 2nd dimension (reversed phase column combination) for the comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic separation was applied. The advantage of the chosen column combination lies in an optimal utilization of the separation space regarding the separation of paraffins, naphthenes and olefins. Data evaluation of VUV raw data files was achieved by exporting from VUVison® in cdf format and importing to ChromSpace® (SepSolve Analytical/Markes International). FID raw data were directly acquired and processed using ChromSpace®. Data acquisition of pre-defined characteristic wavelength ranges and measurements of a commercial available mixture of several standard compounds (“VUV-1”, purchased from VUV Analytics Inc.) and thoroughly chosen naphthenic and olefinic standard compounds, made it possible to determine elution regions of aliphatic, olefinic and aromatic substance classes. By the presented combination of chromatographic separation and detection method (GCxGC-VUV), it was possible to clearly identify and distinguish naphthenes and olefins within the mentioned samples based on retention times and characteristic spectral absorption maxima. Furthermore, a detailed characterization and fully quantitative analysis of commercially available fuel samples, based on substance classes and carbon number, is possible by the application of comprehensive two-dimensional GCxGC-FID.