Rapid determination of hydrocarbons in small geological samples - by heating and measuring the amt of hydrocarbons evolved

摘要

The rapid determination of the amt. of 1-15C hydrocarbon present in a small sample of geological sediment is carried out by (a) introducing the sample into a vessel and heating the vessel in such a way that only the 1-15C hydrocarbons are evapd. (b) measuring the amt. of 1-15C hydrocarbons evolved by the sample during a fixed time corresp. to the evapn. of substantially all the 1-15C hydrocarbons; and (c) generating a resultant signal as a function of the measured value. The analysis can be performed in a short time (e.g. 10-20 min) on samples of a few mg. with no pretreatment other than simple grinding.