Petroleum

Petroleum Column

Petroleum & Petrochemical GC Columns

Petroleum and petrochemical analyses encompass a wide spectrum of applications—from light permanent gases and volatile hydrocarbon screening to detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA), simulated distillation (SimDist), low-sulfur quantitation, and specialized impurity profiling. To support these diverse analytical demands, Agilent offers a comprehensive portfolio of GC columns engineered for the accuracy, reproducibility, and ruggedness required in refinery, upstream, midstream, and petrochemical laboratories.

This portfolio includes high-resolution stationary phases such as CP-Sil PONA CB and HP-PONA for detailed hydrocarbon analysis, DB-Petro for benzene/toluene quantitation, and DB-2887 and DB-HT SimDis for ASTM-compliant simulated distillation of heavy petroleum fractions. For process-critical gas monitoring, specialized PLOT columns such as Select for Permanent Gases – Dual Column deliver dependable separations of O2, N2, CO, CO2, and other permanent gases.

Application-specific solutions such as CP-TCEP for ethanol and oxygenate analysis in gasoline, Select Low Sulfur for ultra-low-sulfur diesel and gasoline workflows, and Select Al2O3 MAPD columns for trace MAPD and light hydrocarbon impurities ensure precise, regulatory-compliant, and method-transferable results across ASTM, EN, and refinery-defined test methods.

Whether you are performing detailed hydrocarbon characterization, compositional gas analysis, ASTM D2887 or D7900 SimDist, oxygenate determination in gasoline, or impurity tracking in petrochemical feedstocks, Agilent’s petroleum GC column family provides the selectivity, thermal robustness, and long-term stability required for demanding, high-throughput laboratory operations.

Key Definitions â–¸
PONA Analysis
An acronym for paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, and aromatics. PONA analysis provides detailed hydrocarbon characterization of gasoline-range samples using highly selective phases such as CP-Sil PONA CB and HP-PONA.
Simulated Distillation (SimDist)
A gas chromatographic method that models true physical distillation by separating hydrocarbons according to boiling point. Columns such as DB-2887, DB-HT SimDis, and CP-SimDist support ASTM D2887, D7169, D6352, and related high-temperature boiling range determinations.
Permanent Gases
Light gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane that remain gaseous under standard laboratory conditions. Agilent’s Select for Permanent Gases – Dual Column configurations are engineered for their precise separation.
Oxygenates in Gasoline
Compounds such as ethanol, MTBE, TAME, and other alcohols/ethers added to gasoline. CP-TCEP columns provide the optimized polarity and resolution required for accurate oxygenate determination in compliance with ASTM and EN fuel specifications.
Low Sulfur Fuel Analysis
Ultra-low sulfur diesel and gasoline workflows that require highly selective, low-bleed columns. Select Low Sulfur phases deliver the stability and sensitivity required for sub-ppm sulfur quantitation.
Al₂O₃ MAPD Analysis
Specialized aluminum oxide phases used for separating trace methylacetylene, propadiene, and C1–C5 hydrocarbons in petrochemical feedstocks. Agilent Select Al₂O₃ MAPD columns provide the required retention and resolution for impurity monitoring in ethylene and propylene streams.
Frequently Asked Questions â–¸
How do I choose the right petroleum GC column for my application?
Selection depends on the analyte class and method requirements. CP-Sil PONA CB and HP-PONA are best for detailed hydrocarbon analysis, DB-Petro supports BTEX and paraffin/olefin/naphthene profiling, DB-2887 and DB-HT SimDis are used for simulated distillation, CP-TCEP is designed for oxygenates in gasoline, and Select Low Sulfur columns provide excellent sensitivity for ultra-low-sulfur fuels. Permanent gas monitoring is performed using Select for Permanent Gases – Dual Column systems.
What is the difference between simulated distillation and detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA)?
SimDist (ASTM D2887, D7169, D6352) separates hydrocarbons by boiling point to model physical distillation curves, while DHA (PONA analysis) separates individual compounds based on chemical structure. SimDist is used for refinery boiling range characterization, whereas DHA is used for formulation, quality control, and compositional profiling of gasoline-range streams.
Which column should I use for ethanol and oxygenates in gasoline?
Agilent CP-TCEP is the preferred column for alcohols, ethers, and other oxygenates in gasoline. Its unique polarity profile provides excellent separation and quantitation for ASTM and EN oxygenate specifications, including ethanol, MTBE, TAME, and DIPE.
What columns are recommended for ultra-low-sulfur fuel analysis?
Select Low Sulfur columns are engineered for ppm–ppb level sulfur measurements in gasoline and diesel. Their high sensitivity and low bleed help meet strict regulatory requirements and improve reliability for sulfur chemiluminescence and FPD detection systems.
Which column do I use for permanent gas analysis?
Permanent gas separations are performed using the Select for Permanent Gases – Dual Column system. This configuration provides reliable separation of O₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, H₂, and low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons in process and refinery gas streams.
What is the best column for MAPD and trace light hydrocarbon impurities?
Select Al₂O₃ MAPD columns provide optimized retention and resolution for methylacetylene–propadiene and other trace hydrocarbons in ethylene and propylene streams. These columns are widely used in petrochemical feedstock purity testing.

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