Headspace microdrop analysis—an alternative test method for gasoline diluent and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in used engine oils

The primary standard test method used for the determination of gasoline diluent in used engine oils is method D 3525-93 of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which involves direct injection of used oil onto a packed GC column and flame ionization detection. Recently, we have utilized a new headspace sampling method: headspace solvent microextraction (HSM), for GC and GC–MS analysis of gasoline diluent in used engine oils. High resolution capillary columns can be used without the necessity for the use of inlet cryogenic cooling or expensive sampling interfaces. This analytical method, which we generically refer to as headspace microdrop analysis yields results comparable to those obtained using the ASTM method, with the added benefit that it allows the quantification of individual volatile diluent components, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes.