Paraffins, Naphthenes and Aromatics (PNA) in Hydrocarbon Streams

A new application note describes the quantitative determination of paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics (PNA) in spark-ignition fuels using the multi-dimensional gas chromatography (GC) separation approach utilised in the Bruker PIONA+™ (USA) Analyser.

Since PNA group analysis was first described back in the 1980s, the multi-dimensional GC based technique has undergone continuous improvement and optimisation. The method is widely used by refinery laboratories worldwide, and the Bruker PIONA+ Analyser is a comprehensive system that characterises and quantifies the components in a variety of spark-ignition fuels according to an array of industry standard method protocols. PIONA+ is flexible, and can be operated in multiple method “modes” depending on the analysis requirement of a given stream type. For this particular application, the system was set-up to characterise the PNA content of spark-ignition fuel.

The test data presented includes two samples analysed in the PNA mode; a representative chromatogram is examined for both, with a very clear group separation making identification and quantification straightforward for the operator. Weight% and volume% results by carbon number and total reports are full in accordance with DIN, ASTM, UOP and IP official standards.