CAN118: Determination of Trace Sodium in Diesel and Biodiesel Fuel

Instrument Type: IC

Sodium determination in diesel fuel using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is possible; limits of detection are ~0.1 ppm. The goal of this study was to develop and test an alternate approach using IC for the determination of cations in diesel fuel. The approach focused on the use of commercially available modules and existing standard chromatographic conditions. The challenge was to design an automated, cost-effective, fast, and sensitive method that can provide 10–100 times greater sensitivity than ICP-OES method and does not require manual extraction steps.

AN255: Determination of Free and Total Glycerol in Biodiesel Samples by HPAE-PAD Chromatography

Instrument Type: IC

Biodiesel fuels are diesel fuel blended with 2–20% (B2–B20) of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained from vegetable or animal oils. The processing of these oils generates 3-1 molecules of free FAMEs and glycerol byproduct. Free and total glycerol is regulated (ASTM D6751) because of associated fuel separation, viscosity, and engine lockup problems. Samples were prepared by base hydrolysis. Glycerol, as free or total, was separated by a CarboPac MA1 column, designed for separation of sugar alcohols and detected by PAD and a Au working electrode. An ICS-6000 can be used for this application.

Analysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) C8-C24 by GC-FID Using a Metal Column

Instrument Type: GC

The Thermo Scientific TraceGOLD Metal GC columns provide a robust alternative to the traditional fused silica columns, assuring longer lifetime suitable for high throughput. In this application, their performances have been proved with the separation of FAMEs in the range C8-C24, showing equivalent selectivity of a fused silica column.

AN203 : Determination of Cations in Biodiesel Using a Reagent-Free Ion Chromatography System with Suppressed Conductivity Detection

Instrument Type: IC

This application note describes a Reagent-Free™ ion chromatography method using the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ IonPac™ CS12A-5 µm column and suppressed conductivity detection for the determination of cations in biodiesel.