Researchers Develop 2D GC with FID Method for Determining the Make Up of Biodiesel Fuel

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Researchers Philip Marriott from the RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia), Warawut Tiyapongpattana, and Prapin Wilairat from the Mahidol University (Bangkok, Thailand) have developed a 2D GC with FID method for determining the composition of biofuels that extends to the C4-C24 esters. They reasoned that a 2D separation, based first on boiling point then on polarity, would provide better resolution of the components.

Researchers Philip Marriott from the RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia), Warawut Tiyapongpattana, and Prapin Wilairat from the Mahidol University (Bangkok, Thailand) have developed a 2D GC with FID method for determining the composition of biofuels that extends to the C4-C24 esters. They reasoned that a 2D separation, based first on boiling point then on polarity, would provide better resolution of the components. The researchers used a nonpolar 5% phenyl-95% methylsiloxane column followed by a polar poly(ethylene glycol) column linked by a cryogenic modulator. The different biodiesels gave different 2D chromatograms, allowing characterisation of the FAME present and clear differentiation between the types of fuels. Their results illustrated that this method provides an accurate way to analyse biofuels from many different sources, giving a clear picture of their FAME composition and permitting one fuel to be distinguished from another.

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