Permitting accurate and highly reproducible analysis of high-boiling components in crude oil samples, it is the optimal system for product quality control and process management in oil refinery plants.

What is Simulated Distillation GC Analysis?
Simulated distillation GC analysis applies a gas chromatograph with a nonpolar column to the boiling-point distribution analysis of petroleum fractions, such as kerosene, diesel oil, and heavy oil. As each component elutes from the column in boiling-point order, the retention time – boiling point curve can be created by analyzing a mixture of hydrocarbons with known boiling points. As shown in Fig. 2, dividing the total area of an unknown sample’s chromatogram into equal time intervals and calculating the area of each time interval allows the proportion of elution volume (%) in each time interval to be calculated as the time interval area value divided by the total area. The elution volume (%) in each boiling point range can be determined from the retention time – boiling point curve and used to obtain the relationship between the elution volume (%) and boiling point, that is, to create the distillation characteristics curve as shown in Fig. 3.
The method above is known as the «total area method,» as it applies when all components in the entire sample elute from the column. The internal standard method, which involves adding an internal standard substance, and the external standard method, which compares the analysis results with an external standard sample, are used for the analysis of crude oil and other samples that contain components that do not elute.

Features
Support for High-Temperature Simulated Distillation GC Analysis

Support for Crude Oil Analysis
Dedicated Injection Unit Handles High-Boiling-Point Samples

Diverse Analysis Functions

• Comprehensive Data Conversion and Customization
• Simple Summary Reports of Complex Data

High Data Reliability

• Comprehensive System Check Functions
• Compatible with LabSolutions Network Functions

The Shimadzu simulated distillation gas chromatograph analysis system supports analysis of high-boiling-point samples (up to 120 carbon number). Examples of analyses conforming to ASTM standards are introduced below.

Support for Cruide Oil Analysis

ASTM D7169

The ASTM D7169 standard applies to crude oil samples with a final boiling point (FBP) exceeding 720 °C. Reference Oil 5010 was analyzed by the external standard method using a short capillary column with a thin film thickness.

Using CS2 quenching factors
Comparison check against reference oil distillation characteristics standard values

ASTM D5307
The ASTM D5307 standard applies to crude oil with a FBP exceeding 538 °C. A packed column was used for analysis by the internal standard method of samples, including those spiked with (n-C14 to n-C17) internal standards.

Display of fractions (mass %) above 538 °C

ASTM D7500
The ASTM D7500 standard applies to samples with an initial boiling point (IBP) exceeding 100 °C and a FBP less than 735 °C. In this example, the sample was analyzed by the total area method using a short capillary column with a thin film thickness. Polywax® 655 and Polywax® 1000 are also used to create the retention time – boiling point curve.

Dedicated Injection Unit Handles High-Boiling-Point Samples
Using an OCI-2030 on-column injection unit with the Nexis GC-2030 Capillary Gas Chromatograph achieves low carryover and provides analysis results with high reproducibility.

Diverse Analysis Functions

The simulated distillation GC analysis software offers comprehensive functions to support the calculation of the physical properties required for process management in oil refinery plants, multisample data comparison required for product quality control, and statistical calculations.

Comprehensive Data Conversion and Customization

The software supports conversions and calculations to acquire information about physical properties from the distillation characteristics. It also supports the following official methods in ASTM, ISO, and DIN standards: estimation of physical distillation (ASTM D86: Normal pressure method; ASTM D1160: low-pressure method; ASTM D2887 Appendix X5: diesel oil and jet fuel conversions), flash point calculations (ASTM D7215), NOACK calculations (DIN 51581-2), MOV calculations (ASTM D6417), Reid vapor pressure calculations, cut point and distillate fraction calculation.

Simple Summary Reports of Complex Data
Daily product data management and comparison studies against past data are essential to maintain a high level of product quality. The software permits access to multiple data through simple operations, data comparison between multiple samples, and statistical calculations.

LabSolutions Simulated Distillation GC Analysis Software
The simulated distillation GC analysis software features functions for operations from calibration to sample analysis. Reporting functions include all calculations required by the simulated distillation gas chromatograph standards. A distillation characteristics curve and reference oil analysis chromatogram can be overlaid in reports, and flexible report generation allows free arrangement and customization of items. In addition, the software provides comprehensive post-run analysis functions, including calculation of physical properties and creation of summary reports for multiple data.

High Data Reliability

The keys to obtaining reliable and reproducible data are daily system accuracy management and a robust system configuration.
Optimized software and hardware are combined to deliver the highest data accuracy.

Comprehensive System Check Functions
The system performance must be comprehensively checked in advance to ensure high-accuracy data when analyzing high-boiling-point samples. It is possible to check whether the system performance specifications prescribed in official methods,such as peak resolution, peak symmetry, and relative sensitivity calculations, are satisfied for standard sample analysis and to check for differences from standard values in reference oil analysis.

Compatible with LabSolutions Network Functions
Data acquired using the Shimadzu simulated distillation gas chromatograph system can be registered to the LabSolutions database, together with data acquired using other instruments.
The highly secure database system permits optimal analysis operations. Configuring a network system with LabSolutions CS permits analysis directions and instrument monitoring and control from a remote PC.

Notes

• The acquisition controller PC controls the analytical instruments. Analysis directions and re-analysis of data can be performed using a client PC.
• It is not necessary to install LabSolutions software on the client PC for terminal service.
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