The Use of HPLC to Determine The Saturate Content of Heavy Petroleum Products

Abstract

Abstract The refractive index response factors for several pure saturate fractions isolated from heavy petroleum products were determined using a μ-Bondapak aminopropylmethylsilyl bonded amorphous silica HPLC column. The response factors for saturates obtained from asphalts had an average refractive index response factor of 1.06 ± 0.096 V/g and the saturates obtained from industrial supercritical fractions had an average refractive index response factor of 1.13 ± 0.048 V/g. The difference between these two values can probably be attributed to the fact that different researchers prepared the pure saturates. Based on this assumption, it was possible to obtain an overall response factor for saturates from high boiling petroleum materials. The overall average response factor for the saturates from these heavy petroleum products was determined to be 1.10 ± 0.079 V/g. The data collected in this study indicate that petroleum jelly, with a response factor of 1.05 V/g, may be used as an adequate saturate calibration standard for asphalt and asphalt related materials.