Aromatics can cause detrimental effects to refining operations by deactivating catalysts. This drives the need for a greater understanding of the aromatic species present within various feedstocks and products. Group-type analysis of aromatic species in middle distillates by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is a well-established technique widely employed in the petroleum industry. However, the boiling ranges of the aromatic groups are needed to understand where aromatics are going to interact in refining operations. GCImage, a commercial software package, was used to obtain simulated distillation curves of middle distillates by GCxGC-FID. The GCxGC results of the simulated distillation of the total aromatics in the middle distillates were validated with and found to be comparable to that of ASTM D7169.  Yield curves of the individual aromatic groups by ring number were also investigated.  Boiling point distribution of the aromatic rings allowed for deeper interpretation of the crude processing and distillation. The data processing workflow and yield curve results will be presented.

Aromatic distribution in middle distillates by GCxGC

ACS Fall 2021

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