Group-type fractionation of petroleum and alternative fuels by column liquid chromatography

The present paper introduces an instrumental procedure based on column liquid chromatography for the total analysis of petroleum heavy ends and similar samples. The procedure avoids the precipitation of asphaltenes and asphaltols. One sequence of eluents fractionates the sample into 8 fractions: 5 non-polar (hydrocarbons), one intermediate (resins), and 2 polar fractions (asphaltenes and asphaltols). Quantitative results from gravimetric measurements and UV-Vis and FTIR spectra of fractions obtained from petroleum heavy ends are presented, as well as those from GC/MS data obtained from one fraction obtained from liquefaction of biomass. The method presented is easy to set up and operate, requires minimum operator attention, is reliable (no precipitation), reproducible, and inexpensive.