Arvind Pratap Singh

A simple gas chromatographic method for the analysis of oxygenates in gasoline

SummaryA number of oxygenated compounds such as C1−C4 alcohols, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and tertamyl methyl ether (TAME) are increasingly being used in gasoline as octane boosters and to reduce vehicular emissions. Monitoring of individual oxygenates in gasoline is important for quality control and regulatory purpose. Although, several analytical methods based on gas chromatography have been reported, a need was still felt to develop a simple and cost effective method of analysis. In this paper, a packed column gas chromatographic method is described for the analysis of C1−C4 alcohols, MTBE and TAME over a wide concentration range (2–20% V/V) in gasoline. The method involves determination of alcohols and ethers separately on two different columns. The alcohols are determined on a 20 ft column packed with poly(ethylene glycol) 400 as a stationary phase while the ethers are analysed on a 20 ft OPN-Poracil C column. The analysis of alcohols on poly(ethylene glycol) 400 column also provides data on aromatic components of gasoline.

Monitoring of trace levels of p-dioxan in high purity benzene feedstock by capillary gas chromatography

SummaryA procedure has been standarized for the determination of p-dioxan (1,4-dioxan) in benzene feedstock in the range of 1 to 100 ppm by capillary GC. The GC conditions such as oven temperature, length of the column etc were optimized to achieve better resolution of p-dioxan from hydrocarbons. The standard addition method of quantitation, was used to determine the amount of p-dioxan and was found to give better results than those obtained by external standardization. Prior to analysis the identity of the p-dioxan peak was established by GC-MS. The proposed method has been applied for the monitoring of p-dioxan in high purity benzene feedstock produced by the Udex extraction process in the refinery. The data were used for optimization of plant conditions for the production of high purity benzene feedstock. By using this method, the p-dioxan content down to 0.5 ppm can be determined in the benzene feedstock.