| Abstract: | A simple and effective solid phase extraction (SPE) method using silica gel micro glass columns has been developed for the separation of diesel fuel into groups of aliphatic, and mono-, di- and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. It is based on a stepwise gradient of dichloromethane in n-pentane. The resulting fractions were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Commercially available standards, and retention indices and mass spectra were used for identification of individual aromatic compounds. The principal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in diesel fuel are naphthalene, biphenyl, fluorene, phen-anthrene and their alkylated derivatives. Sulfur-containing PAHs are mainly represented by methyl-substituted dibenzo-thiophenes. |
