Brisk Method for Fractionating and Separating Bio-Crude Oil
Mayowa A. Azeez *
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A new approach for the analysis of bio-crude oils (BCOs) has been qualitatively explored. The analytical scheme is based on the fractionation of BCO through precipitation in water, freeze-drying, solid phase extraction (SPE) and combinations of analytical techniques for the analysis of fractions. Monomeric components in BCO were characterised using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer and flame ionisation detector (GC-MS/FID). The molecular mass distribution of oligomers was determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The fractionation procedure appeared to have succeeded to a large extent as evident in the detection of various components along their expected fraction in the GC-MS/FID analysis. However, a quantitative analysis of the multiple components in different fractions appeared difficult owing to the loss of many volatile fractions through the fractionation procedure. And less than 7 wt. % of the sugar-related components in the acetylated polar SPE fraction were identified.
Keywords: Bio-crude oil, sugars, solid phase extraction, pyrolysis, freeze-drying, acetylation