Current and Future Applications of Hydrocarbon Analysis in Quality Control

Chemical analysis are often superior and more economical methods of evaluating hydrocarbon quality than simulated performance tests are. Modern instrumental techniques, such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance have facilitated analysis of complex hydrocarbon mixtures. Performance qualities can, theoretically, be calculated by integrating the contributions of the individual components. Empirical tests tend to correlate poorly with performance, and some of the older tests do not reproduce well. The author recommends that in the future alternate analytical methods be carefully considered before simulated performance tests are adopted as standards.