Shale Oil Separation by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

In the characterization of syncrudes from alternate fossil fuel sources, there is a need for the rapid separation into hydrocarbon groups. Analytical separations where microgram quantities of sample can be used and preparative separations on multigram scale so that additional characterization and testing can be carried out. Using samples of shale oil from Utah and Thailand, HPLC techniques are shown that accomplish these aims. The use of a mixed set of normal phase analytical columns for the automated separation into saturates, neutral aromatics by the number of rings and polar aromatics. Separation of multigram quantities of shale oil into major hydrocarbon groups, saturates, neutral aromatics, and polar aromatics is done in under 10 minutes.