Rapid isolation of carboxylic acids from petroleum using high-performance liquid chromatography

A normal-phase HPLC method is described for rapid (1h) separation of carboxylic acids as a class from crude oils and petroleum distillates. Yields of carboxylic acids from several heavy California crude oils as well as midboiling petroleum distillates generated during the API-60 project are reported. Also, four tricyclic terpenoid acids with m/e values of 320, 334, 376, and 376 have been identified and quantified in carboxylic acid concentrations from several oils. The general variability in carboxylic acid species present in different petroleums is discussed along with the suitability of the proposed method for studies requiring analysis of large numbers of oils. 16 references, 3 figures, 5 tables.