Capillary Column Gas Chromatographic Resolution of Isomeric Polycyclic Aromatic Sulfur Heterocycles in a Coal Liquid

Abstract

Fused silica capillary columns coated with nonpolar (SE-52); polar (Suparox 20M); and liquid crystal (BBBT, BMBT, and BHxBT) stationary phases and thair mixtures were evaluated for the separation of isomeric polycyclic aromatic sulphur heterocycles containing three to five rings. Although column containing Suparox 20M or mixtures of Suparox 20M in SE-52 were able to resolve all 3-ring isomers, no single column could resolve all of either the 4-ring or 5-ring isomers. Fortunately, the compounds that were unresolved on pure SE-52 could ba resolved on a 50% mixtures of BBBT in SE-52, making possible the positive identification of these compounds. Thus, the 3-, 4-, and 5-ring polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles in a selected coal liquid were determined using three columns coatad with pure SE-52, 50% Superox 20M in SE-52, and 50% BBBT in SE-52.