Analysis of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles in Egyptian petroleum condensate and volatile oils by gas chromatography with atomic emission detection

Eight Egyptian petroleum condensates and two volatile oils were analyzed by gas chromatography. The condensate oils range in color from colorless to yellow and brown. The samples are composed mainly of saturates hydrocarbons (C3 to C35). The polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) were isolated through use of a silica bonded palladium(II)-complex and their distribution investigated by gas chromatography (GC) with atomic emission detection (AED) in the sulfur-selective mode. The condensate oils show distinctly different distributions of the PASHs, some containing mainly benzothiophenes, and others both benzo- and dibenzothiophenes and a third group in which the dibenzothiophenes strongly dominate. The alkyl substituted sulfur compounds are quantified. The distribution patterns of the PASHs are correlated to the type of reservoir source rocks.