Investigation of methods for determining aromatics in middle-distillate fuels

Four analytical methods applicable for determining aromatics in middle distillates were studied. Selected middle-distillate fuels were analyzed for aromatics by using the fluorescent indicator adsorption method, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and supercritical fluid chromatography. Interlaboratory comparisons were made by using nuclear magnetic resonance and supercritical fluid chromatography results. Data indicated that all methods exhibit a good correlation among each other while mass spectrometric method tends to provide lower aromatic results. The nuclear magnetic resonance results appears to exhibit the highest values. The reproducibility of the aromatics data depends on the intrinsic nature of the technique, the analytical method applied, and the performance of the laboratory