The use of GC x GC with time-of-flight mass spectrometry to investigate dienes and Diels-Alder polymerisation products in high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch-based fuels.
Comprehensive GC in the reversed polarity mode i.e. a polar main column and an apolar secondary column have been used to differentiate cyclic olefins, dienes and cyclic dienes in high temperature Fischer-Tropsch (FT)-based fuels. The elucidation of the blobs in the contour plot was based on spectral data obtained by TOF-MS. The effectiveness of selective catalytic hydrogenation in transforming dienes into olefins could be studied. Dienes are prone to polymerisation by Diels-Alder reactions and dimers and trimers were detected in the 2-D plot by operating the MS in the ion extraction mode. Polymerisation is thought to be partially responsible for gum formation in high temperature FT-derived products.
van der Westhuizen
Rina
R
Sasol Technology R&D, Department of Analytical Solutions, Sasolburg, South Africa.
Crouch
Andrew
A
Sandra
Pat
P