[Characterization and quantitative determination of diesel fractions by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry].

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC/TOFMS) has been applied for the analysis of diesel fractions. Two GC x GC methods are suggested. One is applied for exhaustive characterization and the other is used for the fast separation and quantitation of groups. No sample cleaning-up was required for both methods. Besides hydrocarbon compounds, the distributions of sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds in a catalytic cracked diesel oil were investigated using the developed method. A total of 27 nitrogen compounds (including indole, alkyl indoles, carbazole and alkyl carbazoles) and 42 sulfur compounds (including benzothiophene, alkyl benzothiophenes, dibenzothiophene and alkyl dibenzothiophenes) were identified based on TOFMS and retention index. Quantitative determination of non-aromatics, mono-, di- and tri-aromatics of four diesel oils has been performed. The results are in good agreement with those from ASTM D2425 method.