Separation and determination of aromatic and monoolefin hydrocarbons in mixtures with paraffins and naphthenes by adsorption

A new method is described for separating and determining aromatic and monoolefin hydrocarbons in mixtures with paraffins and naphthenes by adsorption. The mixture to be analysed is introduced into the top of a column of silica gel and, when the liquid level just reaches the top of the silica gel, a suitable desorbing liquid, such as ethyl alcohol, is added. The desorbing liquid forces the hydrocarbon portion down the column, during which passage the hydrocarbon portion is fractionated according to the adsorb ability of the various components. These components issue from t he bottom of the column in the following order: Paraffin plus naphthene, monoolefin, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The analysis is made by determining the fraction of the total volume constituted by each of these classes.