| Abstract Title: | Hydrocarbon Type Analysis of Jet Fuel using Gas Chromatography – Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy |
| Abstract Type: | Oral |
| Session Choice: | Alternative approaches to conventional techniques |
| Presenter Name: | Mr Alex Hodgson |
| Co-authors: | Mr James Diekmann Mr Ryan Schonert Mr Jack Cochran |
| Company/Organisation: | VUV Analytics, Inc |
| Country: | United States |
Abstract Information :
Current jet fuel analysis falls under the purview of 2 ASTM methods. Total saturates, olefins, and aromatics are determined using fluorescent indicator adsorption (FIA) according to ASTM D1319. Di-aromatics are measured using ultraviolet spectrophotometry according to ASTM D1840. However, both methods have significant shortcomings. D1319 has recently had issues with the fluorescing ability of its dye, and the availability of working dye is quickly becoming scarce. D1840 must measure di-aromatics at a relatively high wavelength (285 nm) to minimize mono-aromatic interference. The relative absorbance of these di-aromatics at 285 nm is at least 10 times lower than in the VUV region (125-240 nm). Additionally, D1840 cannot provide any qualitative information or speciation for detected compounds. Gas chromatography – vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (GC-VUV) is a relatively new chromatographic technique that is currently used in the analysis of gasoline-range fuels (ASTM D8071). Saturates, olefins, mono-aromatics, and di-aromatics all have distinct VUV absorbance spectra which allow them to be deconvolved from one another in a complex matrix. Here we present a GC-VUV method to analyze jet fuel in a 14-minute run and a 2-minute automated quantitation, reporting total saturates, olefins, and aromatics comparable to D1319. In the same analysis, di-aromatics (speciated by carbon number) are reported comparable to D1840.
