Hydrocarbon group-type analysis of high boiling petroleum distillates by HPLC

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was developed for the group-type analysis of high boiling petroleum distillates (350–500°C). By coupling with multi-column switching and gradient elution techniques, the high boiling distillates were separated into saturates, monoaromatics, diaromatics, polyaromatics (3–5 rings) and resins (more than six condensed-ring aromatics and polar compounds). Employing moving-wire flame ionization detector for detection and data station for quantitation, the method was characterized by good separation, short analysis time and adaptability to high boiling samples. Its quantitative results showed a high repeatability and were well consistent with mass spectroscopy results for most high boiling distillates.