Identification and structure elucidation of the components of commercial linear alkylbenzenes

A gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry study was performed on four commercial linear alkylbenzenes (LAB). A preliminary detailed analysis was done on some model compounds: four tetralin mixtures obtained by alkylation of benzene with linear dichloro n‐paraffins (C 10 , C 11 , C 12 , and C 13 ), 1‐methyl‐4‐heptyltetralin and 1‐methyl‐3‐octylindane. We concentrated on the minor components (5–10%) present in the linear alkylbenzenes. Three different types of compounds were identified: A) branched alkylbenzenes, B) 1,4‐dialkyltetralins with linear alkyl groups, and C) 1,4‐dialkyltetralins with branched alkyl groups. Quantitative evaluation of these minor components was also done. No evidence of 1,3‐dialkylindane structures, at least those with linear alkyl groups, was found in the commercial linear alkylbenzenes studied.