Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a boiling point distribution of a sample include controlling the rates of temperature increase for a column and an injection port. An analyzer includes a column having a column heating element and an injection port having an injection port heating element. The temperature of the column can be increased at a first rate, and a temperature of the injection port can be increased at a second rate. The first and second rates are selected such that the temperature of the injection port is within about five to fifteen degrees Celsius of the temperature of the column when the temperature of the injection port reaches a target temperature of minimal thermal decomposition.

Abstract: Methods for determining suitability of a fuel are disclosed. In particular the methods include analyzing the fuel for one or more compounds derived from styrene and rejecting the fuel for use if the amount or ratio of the one or more styrene derived compounds exceeds a predetermined amount. Additionally some methods include determining a first amount of styrene in the fuel; correlating the amount of the one- or more compounds derived from styrene with a second amount of styrene in the fuel and rejecting the fuel for use if the sum of the first and second amounts of styrene exceeds a predetermined amount or an established correlation ratio amount.

Abstract: A test method for the determination of methanol in crude oils to levels as low as 0.5 ppm is disclosed. The method includes extracting methanol into a water phase from a test sample of the crude oil forming a test sample extract. The method further includes extracting methanol into a water phase from a reference sample of the crude oil forming a reference sample extract, wherein the reference sample having a predetermined amount of methanol added thereto. The method further includes measuring the methanol content in the test sample extract and the methanol content in the reference sample extract. The method also includes determining the methanol content of the crude oil based upon the methanol content in the test sample extract and the methanol content in the reference sample extract.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a boiling point distribution of a sample include controlling the rates of temperature increase for a column and an injection port. An analyzer includes a column having a column heating element and an injection port having an injection port heating element. The temperature of the column can be increased at a first rate, and a temperature of the injection port can be increased at a second rate. The first and second rates are selected such that the temperature of the injection port is within about five to fifteen degrees Celsius of the temperature of the column when the temperature of the injection port reaches a target temperature of minimal thermal decomposition.

Abstract: A test method for the determination of methanol in crude oils to levels as low as 0.5 ppm is disclosed. The method includes extracting methanol into a water phase from a test sample of the crude oil forming a test sample extract. The method further includes extracting methanol into a water phase from a reference sample of the crude oil forming a reference sample extract, wherein the reference sample having a predetermined amount of methanol added thereto. The method further includes measuring the methanol content in the test sample extract and the methanol content in the reference sample extract. The method also includes determining the methanol content of the crude oil based upon the methanol content in the test sample extract and the methanol content in the reference sample extract.

Abstract: Two quantitative separation approaches to fractionate de-asphalted oils (DAOs) into seven classes of compounds (saturates, 1-4+ ring-aromatics, sulfides, and polars). In the first step (named as “SGS”) of present invention, the DAO of a petroleum vacuum resid is separated in to four classes of compounds, namely saturates, aromatics, and sulfides. In this first step of separation, about 3 grams of a DAO can be separated. Whereas in the second step (named as “ARC” separation) of invention, only less than 300 mg of the aromatic fraction obtained in “SGS” (described above) can be further fractionated at very low temperature (about ?40 degrees centigrade) into 4 fractions, namely 1-ring, 2-ring, 3-ring, and 4+-ring aromatics. The present invention protocol is suitable for a wide range of compositionally different DAOs of petroleum vacuum resids.