TLC-FID Calibration and Accurate Weight Determination of SARA Fractions in Heavy Crude Oil

摘要

The authors specifically aimed to separate and characterize clean saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA) fractions and develop standards for accurate quantification purposes. A standard method ASTM D4124-86 was employed for the SARA separation of an Athabasca crude oil. These four recovered fractions were analyzed by using an latroscan thin-layer chromatograph with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID). The latroscan response to the complete burnoff of known sample Weights of each fraction deposited on chromarods via known volumes of standard solutions was determined and area count versus sample weight calibration graphs subsequently obtained. From the established weight versus peak area calibration curves for each pure separated SARA fraction their accurate quantitative percentage in an Athabasca heavy crude oil was determined.