Meeting the Requirements of EN12916:2006 (IP391/07) Using Agilent 1200 Series HPLC Systems

The performance of diesel fuel is predominantly determined by its ignition quality. This parameter is known as the Cetane number. The Cetane number describes the volume % Cetane (hexadecane) present in a mixture of Cetane and 1-Methylnaphthalene. Generally, in order to provide the best performance and lifetime of an engine, the amount of aromatics in diesel should be as low as possible. For the analysis of nonaromatics and aromatics in diesel fuel and petroleum distillates boiling in the range 150 °C to 400 °C, there exists an IP Method (391/07), which uses HPLC with refractive index detection. The two compound classes (aromatics and non-aromatics) are separated using normal phase HPLC and a column which has little affinity for non-aromatic but pronounced selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons [1]. Recent growth in biodiesel production created a demand for analysis of petrodiesel and petrodiesel/ biodiesel blends. In this method revision, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) originating from biodiesel sources must elute after a tetra-aromatic marker peak, chrysene, which facilitates improved accuracy of large PAH molecules without interference from FAME. The refractive index detector is used because this detector responds to both non-aromatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Authors Michael Woodman Agilent Technologies, Inc. Chemical Analysis Solutions 2850 Centerville Road Wilmington, DE 19808 USA Malgorzata Sierocinska Agilent Technologies European Field Support Centre Waldbronn Germany Application Note