Analysis of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in

Gasoline and Naphtha with the Agilent

6820 Series Gas Chromatograph and a
Single Polar Capillary Column
Application

Petrochemical

Author
Satoshi Ito
Yokogawa Analytical Systems, Inc.
Mitaka Bldg.
2-11-13, Nakacho, Musashino-shi
Tokyo, 180-0006 Japan

Abstract
The aromatic hydrocarbons in finished gasoline, gasoline
blending feedstock, and straight-run naphtha were quantitatively analyzed using an Agilent 6820 gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector and a
single polar capillary column. An Internal standardization
method, using n-tridecane as the internal standard,
yielded quantitative concentration data for 57 aromatic
target compounds, with a relative standard deviation of
less than 1% for almost all compounds.

Introduction
Motorization in China is growing rapidly, resulting
in an increasing demand for gasoline. Since carcinogenic components exist within gasoline, there
is a need to monitor and control its composition.
Many regulatory standards were created worldwide
for this purpose.

The Peoples Republic of China National Standards

GB 17930-1999 [1] describes the quality of
unleaded finished gasoline for motor vehicles.
Maximum allowable concentrations for benzene
and total aromatic hydrocarbon are 2.5 and
40 weight percent (wt %) respectively. This latter
method uses a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped
with a valve system and two packed columns
(OV-101 and TCEP) to analyze benzene and toluene
in gasoline.
In Europe and Japan, the benzene content of gasoline must be 1 wt % or less, and the total aromatic
hydrocarbon content is limited by regulation.
There are approved methods for the analysis of
aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
ASTM D5769 [2] is the standard test method for
determining benzene, toluene, and total aromatics
in finished gasoline by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC/MS). This method requires a
GC/MS system.
ASTM D5580 [3] is the standard gas chromatography (GC) test method for determining benzene,
toluene, ethylbenzene, p/m-xylene, o-xylene, C9
and heavier aromatics, and total aromatics in finished gasoline. This method uses a valve system,
two packed columns, and requires two separate
analyses to completely measure the aromatic
content in gasoline.

ASTM D3606 [4] is the standard test method for

determining benzene and toluene in finished
motor and aviation gasoline by GC. Although this
method can analyze for benzene and toluene, it is
unable to analyze for C8 or heavier aromatic
hydrocarbons.
Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) K 2536-1996 [5]
describes the use of a single TCEP or PEG-20M
capillary column to analyze aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline. This method requires no valve
system or modification of the GC. While both
columns are non-cross-linked liquid phase
columns, they cannot withstand high-temperature
conditions.

premium gasoline (RON = 100), reformate gasoline,

heavy fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline, and
straight-run heavy naphtha.
JIS K 2536-1996 describes a quantitative method
for aromatic hydrocarbons using n-undecane as the
internal standard. Since Chinese gasoline includes
some n-undecane, a different internal standard
(IS) was required. The alternate, n-tridecane, was
used and about 2 wt % was added to each sample.
Each aromatic hydrocarbon component was identified using an Agilent 6890N/5973N GC/MS and
analytical conditions were determined by method
translation.

Experimental

By concensus, theoretical response factors are

used for the correction of the FID detector
response of hydrocarbons (as determined by this
method). The response of an FID to hydrocarbons
is determined by the ratio of the molecular weight
of the carbon in the analyte to the total molecular
weight of analyte. The response factors, as listed in
Table 2, are relative to those calculated for heptane. Calculations are based on the following
equation:

In this work, an Agilent 6820 GC equipped with a

split/splitless inlet and a flame ionization detector
(FID) appear in Table 1.

Fh =

In this application note, the described method uses

a single cross-linked polyethylene glycol capillary
column for the GC analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons in finished gasoline and gasoline blending
feedstock.

Table 1.

Analytical Conditions

(Caw Cn) + (Haw Hn)

Caw Cn

0.83905

Where: Fh = Relative response factor for a

hydrocarbon type group of a particular
carbon number

GC

Agilent 6820 Gas Chromatograph

Inlet

Split/Splitless; 240 C, split mode, split ratio 50:1

Carrier

Helium, 1.4 mL/min at 40 C

Caw = Atomic weight of carbon, 12.011

Column

60 m, 0.25 mm id, 0.25 m film HP-INNOWax

(p/n 19091N-136)

Cn = Number of carbon molecules in the

group

Oven

40 C (5 min); 5 C /min; 240 C (15 min)

Detector

FID, 240 C; Makeup gas: Helium, 40 mL/min

Samples analyzed in this work include: Chinese

finished gasoline (RON = 93), Japanese finished
regular gasoline (RON = 90), Japanese finished

Haw = Atomic weight of hydrogen, 1.008

Hn = Number of hydrogen molecules in the
group; 0.83905 is the correction factor with
heptane as unity (1.0000). 0.7487 is used
with methane as unity.

Table 2.

Theoretical FID Relative Response Factors

Carbon
number

Saturated
paraffins

Olefins

Saturated
naphthenes

Unsaturated
naphthenes

Aromatics

1.1207

1.0503

1.0268

0.9799

1.0151

0.9799

1.0080

0.9799

0.9799

0.9517

1.0034

0.9799

0.9799

0.9564

0.9095

1.0000

0.9799

0.9799

0.9598

0.9195

0.9975

0.9799

0.9799

0.9623

0.9271

0.9955

0.9799

0.9799

0.9642

0.9329

10

0.9940

0.9799

0.9799

0.9658

0.9376

11

0.9927

0.9799

0.9799

0.9671

0.9415

12

0.9916

0.9799

0.9799

0.9681

0.9447

13

0.9907

0.9799

0.9799

0.9690

0.9474

14

0.9899

0.9799

0.9799

0.9698

0.9497

15

0.9893

0.9799

0.9799

0.9705

0.9517

Results and Discussion

A chromatogram of reformate gasoline is shown in
Figure 1. Reformate is a high concentration, aromatic hydrocarbon gasoline feedstock from the
reformation process. There are low boiling point
nonaromatic hydrocarbons eluted before benzene.
High boiling point nonaromatic hydrocarbons were
not found in reformate, and all peaks after benzene
were aromatic hydrocarbons. A peak of n-tridecane
(peak number 19) elutes at 19.45 minutes, between
1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,4-diethylbenzene.
These peaks separate at the base line. The
n-tridecane peak does not overlap with any
aromatic hydrocarbon peak.

28
31
40

19

25
21

29

39

30
32

12

15
18

16
11 13

14

37
33

23

17

24

26

35 36
34

42
43
38

20

pA

45

41

27

20 22

44

47
46 48 49

25

1 2

4
5

400

10 15 18 28
12
9
19
8

300

200

31

40

100

51
50

56
55
52 53
54

57
58

0
0

Figure 1.

10

Chromatogram of reformate.

15

20

25

30

35

min

A chromatogram of heavy FCC gasoline is shown

in Figure 2. FCC gasoline contains paraffin, olefin,
naphthene, and aromatic hydrocarbons. There are
some small interfering nonaromatic hydrocarbon
peaks among benzene and ethylbenzene. It also
seems that benzene and toluene overlap another
nonaromatic hydrocarbon, but the peak area of
this interference is relatively small.

18

19

12
15

32
31

28

21

47

25
16
17

20

22
23
24

11 13 14

38
39

34
27

33

36

2
3

46

48

41
49

4445

42

26

20

pA

40

35 37

29 30

43

25

18
10

19

400
12
9

300

32

15
25

200

51

47

21
35 40

43
52

100
53

Figure 2.

10

15

50

20

25

30

35

56

57

min

Chromatogram of heavy FCC gasoline.

A chromatogram of heavy naphtha is shown in

Figure 3. Naphtha contains paraffin, naphthene,
and aromatic hydrocarbons. There are some
nonaromatic hydrocarbon peaks near benzene and
few after toluene.

19

18

20
21
22
23

15
12

16

26
27

17

31

28
11 13

24 25

29 30

32 33 34 35

20

pA

3 5

25

19

400
4
1

300

10

18

200

15
9
8

100

Figure 3.

10

15

12

20

Chromatogram of heavy straight-run naphtha.

25

30

35

min

A chromatogram of Japanese finished premium

gasoline (RON = 100) is shown in Figure 4. The premium gasoline is normally blended with reformate,
light FCC gasoline, alkylate, isomerate, butane,
butene, and some oxygenates. The premium gasoline does not contain a heavy fraction of nonaromatic hydrocarbons. Only a few small peaks of
nonaromatic hydrocarbons are found near the
benzene peak.

10

18
19

15

28

12

8
20
21
22
17

27

23
25

29 30

31
32

16

11 13

33

26

15

39

43 45 47

20

10

pA

2
9

25

18
15

400

40

37

19
28

12

5
8

300
4

200
6

31

100

40
45

Figure 4.

10

15

20

25

51

30

35

min

Chromatogram of Japanese finished premium gasoline.

A chromatogram of Japanese finished regular

gasoline (RON = 90) is shown in Figure 5. The regular gasoline is normally blended with reformate,
heavy FCC gasoline, light naphtha, butane, and
butene. In this case, there are some heavy nonaromatic hydrocarbons. These peaks elute between
benzene and o-xylene. There is no nonaromatic
hydrocarbon peak after o-xylene.

10

18
19

12

15
28

20
21
23
22

11 13 14 16 17

31 32

25

29 30

40
39
35
3334 3637 38

27
26

20

43
42

47
45
44 46
48 49

25

10

18

pA
400
1

300

15

28

200

51

47

100

52

53

50

Figure 5.

10

15

20

Chromatogram of Japanese finished regular gasoline.

25

30

35

min

A chromatogram of Chinese finished gasoline

(RON = 93) is shown in Figure 6. This gasoline
contains heavy fractions of nonaromatic hydrocarbons. The peak at 12.9 min is n-undecane. In this
case, if n-undecane is used as an internal standard,
the quantitative results will be incorrect. There is
no nonaromatic hydrocarbon near n-tridecane.

18
10

19

20
12

21

15

28

22

16

23

27
25

31
29 30

17
24

11 13 14

26

45

36

32

40
39
35
33 34
37 38

41

42

20

46
43

47
44

48 49

25

18

7
10

pA
4
3

19

400

300
12
1

200

28

15

100
51

6
50

Figure 6.

10

15

20

25

30

52 53

35

56

min

Chromatogram of Chinese finished gasoline.

Quantitative results for finished gasoline and gasoline feedstock are shown in Table 3. Reformate and
heavy FCC gasoline contain heavy aromatic hydrocarbons such as biphenyl and dimethylnaphthalene. However, heavy straight-run naphtha does
not contain any heavy fraction; tetramethylbenzenes and naphthalene are not detected.

Table 3.

Peak
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

10

Quantitative Results for Finished Gasoline and Blending Feedstock

Reformate
Compound name
Wt %
Benzene
4.716
Toluene
15.705
Ethylbenzene
4.227
p-Xylene
3.794
m-Xylene
8.260
iso-Propylbenzene
0.332
o-Xylene
5.506
n-Propylbenzene
0.865
1-Methyl-4-ethylbenzene
1.350
1-Methyl-3-ethylbenzene
2.935
iso-Butylbenzene
0.018
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
1.069
sec-Butylbenzene
0.020
Styrene
0.036
1-Methyl-2-ethylbenzene
1.336
1-Methyl-4-iso-propylbenzene 0.071
1-Methyl-3-iso-propylbenzene 0.023
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
4.501
n-Tridecane (IS)
1.854
1,4-Diethylbenzene
0.073
1-Methyl-4-n-propylbenzene 0.179
1-Methyl-3-n-propylbenzene 0.073
1,3-Diethylbenzene
0.031
n-Butylbenzene
0.027
1,3-Dimetyl-5-ethylbenzene
0.212
alpha-Methylstyrene
0.031
1-Methyl-2-n-propylbenzene 0.069
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene
1.120
1,4-Dimetyl-2-ethylbenzene
0.181
1,3-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
0.188
1,2-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
0.283

Heavy FCC
gasoline
Wt %
0.347
6.141
1.988
1.797
4.706
0.068
2.201
0.590
0.819
2.070
0.070
0.812
0.074
0.073
0.629
0.061
0.027
2.599
2.127
0.241
0.534
0.201
0.087
0.200
0.471
0.013
0.196
0.566
0.352
0.373
0.539

Heavy
naphtha
Wt %
0.667
3.466
1.286
0.878
2.213
0.152
1.360
0.247
0.332
0.660
0.009
0.210
0.017
0.000
0.375
0.022
0.012
0.530
2.107
0.018
0.025
0.009
0.005
0.009
0.016
0.007
0.022
0.095
0.014
0.013
0.010

Japanese
premium
gasoline
Wt %
0.729
22.345
0.828
0.439
0.765
0.229
0.174
0.667
1.094
2.396
0.013
0.938
0.015
0.000
1.043
0.049
0.017
3.932
2.168
0.122
0.050
0.020
0.017
0.000
0.148
0.006
0.044
0.963
0.119
0.105
0.197

Japanese
regular
gasoline
Wt %
0.604
5.744
0.714
0.582
1.487
0.101
0.697
0.405
0.630
1.463
0.025
0.577
0.028
0.020
0.555
0.036
0.014
2.185
2.043
0.211
0.081
0.034
0.069
0.000
0.012
0.005
0.077
0.516
0.155
0.156
0.245

Chinese
gasoline
Wt %
0.371
3.550
0.909
0.951
2.669
0.061
1.444
0.248
0.411
1.108
0.019
0.521
0.019
0.009
0.390
0.044
0.016
1.954
1.556
0.099
0.232
0.072
0.032
0.054
0.246
0.006
0.079
0.484
0.180
0.167
0.261

Table 3.

Quantitative Results for Finished Gasoline and Blending Feedstock (continued)

Peak
number Compound name
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58

Indane
1,3-Dimethyl-2-ethylbenzene
Diethylmethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
iso-Propenylbenzene
1,2-Dimethyl-3-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene
1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene
2,4-Diethyl-1-methylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-tert-butylbenzene
5-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic
1,2,4,5-Tetramethylbenzene
C11-Aromatic
4-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic
C11-Aromatic
Pentamethylbenzene
Naphthalene
2-Methylnaphthalene
1-Methylnaphthalene
2-Ethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene
Biphenyl
Dimethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene

Reformate
Wt %
0.154
0.035
0.006
0.010
0.026
0.062
0.007
0.192
0.284
0.004
0.008
0.028
0.004
0.128
0.013
0.039
0.006
0.009
0.012
0.105
0.051
0.029
0.007
0.017
0.005
0.009
0.029

Heavy FCC
gasoline
Wt %

Heavy
naphtha
Wt %

0.744
0.190
0.120
0.495
0.195
0.122
0.131
0.382
0.449
0.081
0.131
0.496
0.030
0.143
0.137
0.610
0.234
0.173
0.042
0.664
0.309
0.104
0.000
0.000
0.006
0.008
0.000

0.025
0.020
0.000
0.005
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

Japanese
premium
gasoline
Wt %
0.135
0.032
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.043
0.000
0.126
0.177
0.000
0.000
0.015
0.000
0.034
0.000
0.016
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.008
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

Japanese
regular
gasoline
Wt %

Chinese
gasoline
Wt %

0.276
0.018
0.040
0.160
0.062
0.024
0.044
0.174
0.217
0.044
0.008
0.161
0.009
0.120
0.048
0.206
0.074
0.057
0.007
0.233
0.106
0.038
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.261
0.077
0.034
0.148
0.043
0.087
0.036
0.170
0.209
0.016
0.028
0.100
0.005
0.087
0.051
0.123
0.027
0.028
0.006
0.097
0.043
0.019
0.000
0.000
0.007
0.000
0.000

11

Chinese finished gasoline and reformate were

investigated for reproducibility of quantitative
results. These data are shown in Tables 4 and 5,
respectively. Most percent RSD are within 1%,
except for a few peaks in very small concentration.
Table 4.

Reproducibility Data for Chinese Finished Gasoline

Peak
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41

Compound name
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
p-Xylene
m-Xylene
iso-Propylbenzene
o-Xylene
n-Propylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-ethylbenzene
iso-Butylbenzene
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
sec-Butylbenzene
Styrene
1-Methyl-2-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-propylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-iso-propylbenzene
1,2,4-Trimetylbenzene
n-Tridecane (IS)
1,4-Diethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-n-propylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-n-propylbenzene
1,3-Diethylbenzene
n-Butylbenzene
1,3-Dimetyl-5-ethylbenzene
alpha-Methylstyrene
1-Methyl-2-n-propylbenzene
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene
1,4-Dimetyl-2-ethylbenzene
1,3-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
1,2-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
Indane
1,3-Dimethyl-2-ethylbenzene
Diethylmethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
iso-Propenylbenzene
1,2-Dimethyl-3-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene
1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene
2,4-Diethyl-1-methylbenzene

12

RT, min
7.83
10.99
14.05
14.33
14.59
15.68
16.13
16.93
17.42
17.52
18.00
18.15
18.29
18.62
18.75
18.91
19.00
19.45
19.77
20.03
20.10
20.19
20.33
20.41
20.81
21.00
21.17
21.25
21.71
21.93
22.18
22.36
22.72
23.02
23.13
23.36
23.51
23.80
23.95
24.28
24.45

Ave wt %
0.373
3.567
0.911
0.953
2.679
0.061
1.448
0.249
0.412
1.111
0.019
0.523
0.019
0.009
0.391
0.044
0.016
1.959
1.556
0.099
0.232
0.072
0.033
0.054
0.246
0.017
0.079
0.485
0.180
0.168
0.261
0.261
0.077
0.034
0.148
0.043
0.087
0.036
0.170
0.209
0.016

%RSD
0.658
0.658
0.481
0.438
0.548
0.259
0.498
0.406
0.526
0.485
0.285
0.454
1.776
0.754
0.405
0.333
0.819
0.426
0.000
0.308
0.393
0.377
0.474
0.435
0.369
0.315
0.367
0.345
0.417
0.342
0.354
0.446
0.412
0.282
0.451
0.320
0.496
0.952
0.245
0.304
0.268

Table 4.

Reproducibility Data for Chinese Finished Gasoline (continued)

Peak
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58

Compound name
1-Methyl-4-tert-butylbenzene
5-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic
1,2,4,5-Tetramethylbenzene
C11-Aromatic
4-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic
C11-Aromatic
Pentamethylbenzene
Naphthalene
2-Methylnaphthalene
1-Methylnaphthalene
2-Ethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene
Biphenyl
Dimethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene

RT, min
24.55
25.49
25.73
25.86
26.03
26.25
26.34
26.64
30.14
32.80
35.50
36.36
37.64
38.03
38.47
38.73
38.92

Ave wt %
0.028
0.100
0.005
0.088
0.052
0.123
0.028
0.028
0.006
0.097
0.043
0.020

0.007

%RSD
0.527
0.356
4.640
0.602
0.764
0.472
1.321
0.674
1.083
0.374
0.299
1.206

5.155

13

Table 5.

Reproducibility Data for Reformate

Peak
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48

Compound name
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
p-Xylene
m-Xylene
iso-Propylbenzene
o-Xylene
n-Propylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-ethylbenzene
iso-Butylbenzene
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
sec-Butylbenzene
Styrene
1-Methyl-2-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-propylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-iso-propylbenzene
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
n-Tridecane (IS)
1,4-Diethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-n-propylbenzene
1-Methyl-3-n-propylbenzene
1,3-Diethylbenzene
n-Butylbenzene
1,3-Dimetyl-5-ethylbenzene
alpha-Methylstyrene
1-Methyl-2-n-propylbenzene
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene
1,4-Dimetyl-2-ethylbenzene
1,3-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
1,2-Dimetyl-4-ethylbenzene
Indane
1,3-Dimethyl-2-ethylbenzene
Diethylmethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
iso-Propenylbenzene
1,2-Dimethyl-3-ethylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-iso-butylbenzene
1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene
1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene
2,4-Diethyl-1-methylbenzene
1-Methyl-4-tert-butylbenzene
5-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic
1,2,4,5-Tetramethylbenzene
C11-Aromatic
4-Methylindane
C11-Aromatic

14

RT, min
7.862
11.086
14.110
14.395
14.677
15.716
16.200
16.962
17.465
17.580
18.032
18.188
18.307
18.661
18.789
18.933
19.025
19.512
19.815
20.052
20.120
20.203
20.344
20.429
20.823
21.076
21.196
21.282
21.721
21.939
22.195
22.368
22.763
23.032
23.089
23.360
23.520
23.815
23.962
24.294
24.463
24.564
25.500
25.732
25.866
26.042
26.255
26.363

Ave wt %
4.659
15.556
4.201
3.772
8.215
0.331
5.477
0.861
1.347
2.924
0.018
1.065
0.020
0.035
1.328
0.070
0.023
4.478
1.854
0.073
0.179
0.073
0.031
0.026
0.212
0.031
0.069
1.114
0.180
0.187
0.281
0.153
0.035
0.006
0.010
0.028
0.064
0.007
0.192
0.283
0.004
0.008
0.028
0.004
0.127
0.013
0.039
0.005

%RSD
0.805
0.581
0.386
0.369
0.346
0.375
0.333
0.297
0.235
0.271
0.771
0.283
0.892
1.926
0.339
0.555
0.870
0.271
0.000
0.490
0.662
1.586
1.174
0.402
0.276
0.853
0.548
0.322
0.348
0.281
0.314
0.419
1.199
4.721
4.312
6.343
2.826
1.099
0.325
0.268
0.785
3.870
0.453
3.307
0.428
1.102
0.295
5.996

Table 5.

Reproducibility Data for Reformate (continued)

Peak
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58

Compound name
C11-Aromatic
Pentamethylbenzene
Naphthalene
2-Methylnaphthalene
1-Methylnaphthalene
2-Ethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene
Biphenyl
Dimethylnaphthalene
Dimethylnaphthalene

RT, min
26.651
30.158
32.815
35.507
36.376
37.636
38.033
38.549
38.725
38.921

Ave wt %
0.009
0.012
0.104
0.051
0.029
0.007
0.017
0.005
0.009
0.028

This method requires no valve or precolumn. It

only requires a normal GC equipped with
split/splitless inlet, FID, and a single, polar
HP-INNOWax capillary column. Quantitative
results are improved using n-tridecane, instead of
n-undecane, as the internal standard.

Conclusion
The aromatic hydrocarbons in finished gasoline,
gasoline blending feedstock, and straight-run
naphtha were quantitatively analyzed using an
Agilent 6820 GC equipped with FID and a single
polar capillary column. An internal standardization method, using n-tridecane as the internal
standard, yielded quantitative concentration data
for 57 aromatic target compounds, with a relative
standard deviation of less than 1% for almost all
compounds.

%RSD
0.708
0.550
0.435
0.370
0.394
0.544
0.957
1.054
1.276
0.710

References
1. People's Republic of China National Standards
GB 17930-1999.
2. ASTM D5769 ; the standard test method for
determination of benzene, toluene, and total
aromatics in finished gasoline by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
3. ASTM D5580 ; standard test method for determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
p/m-xylene, o-xylene, C9 and heavier aromatics
and total aromatics in finished gasoline by GC.
4. ASTM D3606 ; standard test method for determination of benzene and toluene in finished
motor and aviation gasoline by GC.
5. JIS K 2536-1996 ; Liquid petroleum products testing method of components.

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Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2003
Printed in the USA
May 7, 2003
5988-9261EN