Identification and quantification of (alkyl)benzenes in hydrocracked products of light cycle oil by GC–AED

GC–AED analysis was applied for detailed identification and quantification of (alkyl)benzenes in the hydrocracked light cycle oil (LCO) over alumina coated USY zeolite (ACZ) supported NiMoS catalyst. The specified AED peaks of C and H in the separated hydrocarbon species provide their H/C ratios. Several standard chemicals such as linear paraffins, (alkyl)cycloalkanes, (alkyl)benzenes, (alkyl)naphthalenes, and 3-ring compounds were examined to calibrate the area of their relative carbon and hydrogen peaks in the chromatogram to their atomic ratios. According to the combination of H/C ratio and carbon number, the series of (alkyl)benzenes from the hydrocracked products of LCO detected in the chromatograms were successfully identified and quantified. The methodology of GC–AED application developed in this study can be applied to identify the hydrocracked product from light, middle, as well as heavy oils.