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Title: Supercritical fluid fractionation and detailed characterization of the sulfur heterocycles in a catalytically cracked petroleum vacuum residue

Journal Article · · Anal. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00124a029· OSTI ID:5301250

The sulfur heterocycles in a catalytically cracked vacuum residue were isolated by use of a newly developed ligand exchange chromatographic procedure, and they were then fractionated according to the number of aromatic rings by using a supercritical fluid fractionation system with supercritical CO/sub 2/ as the fractionation solvent. Compounds in each fraction were identified by capillary column gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Characteristic mass spectral fragmentation patterns were used to confirm identifications, particularly for the alkyl-substituted compounds. The sulfur heterocycles in this sample were annellated on both sides of the thiophene ring and were highly alkylated; the most abundant compounds contained alkyl chains with three carbon atoms. Several four-ring compounds containing two sulfur heteroatoms were also detected. This example illustrates the effectiveness of supercritical fluid fractionation according to the number of aromatic rings for highly alkylated samples.

Research Organization:
Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-79EV10237
OSTI ID:
5301250
Journal Information:
Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 58:11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English