Comparative study of differential flow and cryogenic modulators comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography systems for the detailed analysis of light cycle oil

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1218; no. 21; pp. 3146 - 3152
• Main Authors: Semard, G., Gouin, C., Bourdet, J., Bord, N., Livadaris, V.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 27-05-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, Gas - instrumentation; Chromatography, Gas - methods; Cold Temperature; comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography; Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC); Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Differential flow modulator; distillates; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel Oils - analysis; Fuels; Gas chromatographic methods; Gas chromatography; hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons - analysis; industry; Light cycle oil (LCO); Liquids; Middle distillates; Modulation; Modulators; oils; Optimization; Peak capacity; petroleum; photoperiod; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Retention space; Sampling; Separation; Two dimensional; Middle distillates; Light cycle oil (LCO); Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC); Retention space; Peak capacity; Differential flow modulator; Petroleum fraction; Peak resolution; Chemical analysis; Two dimensional chromatography; Flame ionization detector; chromatography (GC×GC); Gas chromatography; Comprehensive two-dimensional gas; Plate efficiency; Cryogenic fluid; Comparative study; Middle distillate
• ISSN: 0021-9673; 1873-3778
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2010.08.082

The modulator is the key point of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). This interface ensures the sampling and transfer of the sample from the first to the second dimension. Many systems based on different principles have been developed. However, to our knowledge, almost only cryogenic modulators are used in the petroleum industry. Nevertheless cryogenic fluids represent some disadvantages in term of safety, cost and time consuming. This paper reports a comparative study between differential flow and cryogenic liquid modulators for the detailed analysis of hydrocarbons in middle distillates type light cycle oil (LCO). Optimization of geometrical dimensions of a set of columns was carried out on the differential flow modulator system in order to reproduce the quality of separation of cryogenic modulation. Then a comparative study was investigated on sensibility and resolution (separation space and peak capacity) between the two systems.