HPLC fractionation and GC-MS determination of aromatic hydrocarbons from oils and sediments

Normal-phase HPLC using a cyano/amino bonded silica stationary phase can provide reliable and rapid fractionation of total neutral fractions from oils and sediments. Separation of aliphatic from aromatic hydrocarbons is possible, but in addition HPLC is able to fractionate aromatic hydrocarbons according to their number of double bonds.Applications of the HPLC fractionation in organic geochemistry are described and illustrated by GC-FID and GC-MS data from an oil and a recent sediment exhibiting a high degree of petrogenic contamination. Alkylphenanthrenes can be obtained free of alkyldibenzothiophenes, allowing evaluation of the methylphenanthrene index by GC-FID without the need for quantification of co-eluting sulphur compounds by GC-FPD.The choice of capillary GC stationary is also considered, particularly with regard to resolution of aromatic steroidal hydrocarbons and alkylphenanthrenes.