GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF BENZENE AND TOLUENE IN CRUDE OILS

A gas chromatographic method for the determination of benzene and toluene in crude oils has been developed and utilized in the analysis of 102 crude-oil samples. The method, which is readily adaptable to most chromatographs, uses a simple backflushing technique with nonpolar (OV-1) and polar (1,2,3-tris(2-cyanoethoxy)propane) columns in series. Repeatability and accuracy of the method are better than ± 2% and ±4 % of the measured values for benzene or toluene. The Importance of such data for the identification of crude oils from a common geological origin is demonstrated. For predictive purposes, correlations of benzene and toluene weight percents with routinely measured physical properties of crude oils have been developed. Reasonable estimates of benzene and toluene concentrations can be obtained from these correlations. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.