Laser spectrochromatographic analysis of petroleum components

A system combining a gas chromatograph and a laser optoacoustic spectrometer (with a CO₂ laser and means for fast frequency scanning) was used to investigate model hydrocarbon mixtures, as well as some real objects in the form of benzine fractions of petroleum oil. The fast scanning regime was used to record optoacoustic spectra of hydrocarbons (in the range 9.2–10.8μ) during the travel time (1–10 sec) of the individual components of a mixture through an optoacoustic cell in the course of chromatrographic separation of these components. The spectra were used to carry out a group hydrocarbon analysis of benzine fractions of petroleum oil from various locations. The proposed method was relatively fast and was characterized by a good ability for identification of various components, compared with the usually employed method such as gas–liquid capillary chromatography.