A Comparative Evaluation of Nitrogen Compounds in Petroleum Distillates

• Published in: Chromatographia Vol. 74; no. 1-2; pp. 121 - 126
• Main Authors: Singh, Dheer, Chopra, Anju, Patel, Mitra Bhanu, Sarpal, Amarjit Singh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.07.2011; Springer
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Gas chromatographic methods; Laboratory Medicine; Original; Pharmacy; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Proteomics; Nitrogen chemiluminescence detector; Nitrogen compounds; Gas chromatography; Petroleum distillates; Elemental analysis; Elementary analysis; Diesel fuel; Nitrogen heterocycle; Carbazole derivatives; Kerosene; Chemiluminescence; Aniline derivatives; Total nitrogen; Isoquinoline; Quinoline; Indole derivatives; Comparative study; Aromatic amine
• ISSN: 0009-5893; 1612-1112
• DOI: 10.1007/s10337-011-2027-1

Although the concentration of nitrogen compounds in crude oil is relatively low, they can become more concentrated in petroleum distillates and poison the catalysts used in refining processes. They cause undesirable deposits, color formation and odor in products; they also contribute to air pollution and some are highly carcinogenic. The poisoned catalyst becomes deactivated for hydrodesulfurization and unable to remove sulfur from middle distillates. In order to understand the effect on catalytic processes, it is desirable to identify the nitrogen compounds in various petroleum distillates. This paper compares the nitrogen species profiles in different petroleum distillates using a nitrogen chemiluminescence detector. In addition, four different petroleum distillate samples from different refineries were analyzed to find the variation in their nitrogen profiles. The nitrogen compounds in petroleum distillate samples were identified as anilines, quinolines, indoles, and carbazoles and their alkyl derivatives. Quantitation was carried out against known reference standards. The quantitative data were compared to the total nitrogen content determined by elemental analysis.