Uses Of Chromatography
Uses of chromatography or chromatographic application vary widely in the chemical industry. Gas chromatographs or GCs can be fit for a variety of analysis classifications based around gas or liquid analysis. The benefits of gas chromatography are both a fast and accurate analysis with respect to component identification and quantification. The sectors of industry that use GCs, particularly refining, energy and environmental monitoring, use a variety of chromatography formats with which to perform analyses. Some examples include:
The Natural Gas Industry. GCs are used extensively in the natural gas industry as a means of tracking exactly how much energy is being pumped down the pipeline. This is done by breaking down the components in natural gas and calculating the total BTU, calorie or other energy value of the gas per unit of volume. Natural gas generally consists of methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane, neopentane, isopentane, n-pentane, C6+, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Sour natural gas also contains sulfur.
The Petrochemical Industry. GCs are used extensively in the petrochemical industry to analyze feedstock materials for impurities that may contaminate the finished products or poison expensive catalysts used in the process. Examples of feedstock chemicals, many of which are commodities include but are not limited to: ethylene, propylene, trans-2-butene, 1-butene, isobutylene, cis-2-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene and 1-octene to name a few. Impurities of interest in feedstocks such as these may include hydrogen, carbon dioxide as well as carbon monoxide. Examples of aromatic feedstocks include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene and propyl benzene to name a few. Impurities of interest in aromatic feedstocks may include other aromatics as well as sulfur in rare cases.
The Environmental Monitoring Industry. The environmental monitoring industry makes extensive use of chromatography as a means to detect and track harmful organic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be present in the air we breathe, the water we drink or the soil we grow our food in. Examples of VOCs include but are not limited to: halogenated solvents such as methylene chloride, trichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. Additionally, aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene are considered to be VOCs when released into the environment such as when oil based paint dries.
Chromatography plays a vital role in our lives and the uses of chromatography far exceed the ones listed here. Without GCs many of the important applications that keep us safe and healthy would not be possible.
The Natural Gas Industry. GCs are used extensively in the natural gas industry as a means of tracking exactly how much energy is being pumped down the pipeline. This is done by breaking down the components in natural gas and calculating the total BTU, calorie or other energy value of the gas per unit of volume. Natural gas generally consists of methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane, neopentane, isopentane, n-pentane, C6+, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Sour natural gas also contains sulfur.
The Petrochemical Industry. GCs are used extensively in the petrochemical industry to analyze feedstock materials for impurities that may contaminate the finished products or poison expensive catalysts used in the process. Examples of feedstock chemicals, many of which are commodities include but are not limited to: ethylene, propylene, trans-2-butene, 1-butene, isobutylene, cis-2-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene and 1-octene to name a few. Impurities of interest in feedstocks such as these may include hydrogen, carbon dioxide as well as carbon monoxide. Examples of aromatic feedstocks include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene and propyl benzene to name a few. Impurities of interest in aromatic feedstocks may include other aromatics as well as sulfur in rare cases.
The Environmental Monitoring Industry. The environmental monitoring industry makes extensive use of chromatography as a means to detect and track harmful organic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be present in the air we breathe, the water we drink or the soil we grow our food in. Examples of VOCs include but are not limited to: halogenated solvents such as methylene chloride, trichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. Additionally, aromatic compounds such as benzene and toluene are considered to be VOCs when released into the environment such as when oil based paint dries.
Chromatography plays a vital role in our lives and the uses of chromatography far exceed the ones listed here. Without GCs many of the important applications that keep us safe and healthy would not be possible.