Structural analysis of Alberta heavy gas oils

A Structural Group Analysis (SGA) technique was developed for characterization of Alberta gas oils. The gas oils were separated into class fractions enriched in selected structural groups. Data from elemental analysis, 1H n.m.r., 13C n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopy were used in an optimization procedure to obtain the group concentrations. Stuctural profiles are presented for four gas oils which give a description of the amounts of aromatics, hydrogenated rings, alkyl structures and heteroatomic groups. The accuracy of the method was tested on calibration mixtures and the predicted concentrations of most aliphatic groups were within ±20% of known concentrations. Reproducibility of the method was also tested by a repeat analysis of one gas oil. Variations in group concentrations were within the expected error of ±20%.