N-containing species in crude oil fractions: An identification and quantification method by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry

The requirement of fuels with ultra low impact to the environment forces the application of specific upgrading treatments to crude oils to reduce the heteroatom content, especially for N which is more difficult to be converted. Easy and well descriptive analytical methods are required to control the nature and the amount of N-containing species in petroleum cuts. GC × GC–MSD analysis proves to be a suitable technique for identifying the N-containing families, i.e. one base structure (e.g. indole) and all its derivatives with aliphatic substitutes, and quantifying (wt.%) their single components. An analytical method for identification and quantification of N-compounds, together with aromatic and S-compounds identification and distribution, was proposed and verified on crude oil fractions.