Chromatographic characterization of thermally upgraded products from alternative fuels

An overview is presented of the analytical approaches developed by our research group over the last ten years for analysis of alternative fuel, both biomass and fossil. The alternative fuels are analyzed successively by PLC-8 (preparative liquid chromatography–group-type) fractionation and high resolution gas chromatography. Some of the possibilities for fractionation and characterization of alternative fuels are herein exemplified with sugar cane bagasse pyrolysis products.     

Effects of a controlled N2 and O2 addition to Ar on the analytical parameters of the GD-OES

The influence of the controlled addition of N₂ and of O₂ to Ar on the analytical parameters of a dc glow discharge has been investigated for bulk samples of the pure metals Al, Ti, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ag. The constant voltage discharge mode at 1000 V was applied with a mean power of about 1 W/mm². The N₂ and O₂ concentrations in the discharge gas Ar were varied in the range 0–3 mass-%, corresponding to a partial pressure of about 4 · 10^?3 hPa. The general effect of the gaseous addition is the decrease of the sputtering rate with an increasing concentration of N₂ or O₂. Atomic processes, which might be responsible for the observed effects, are discussed.