ABSTRACT
A variety of analytical schemes have been published for petroleum product fingerprinting, although few have focused on gasolines. Those that have typically begin with a simulated distillation analysis and proceed as necessary to more complex analyses involving identification of additives such as octane boosters and hydrocarbon profiling by gas chromatography and/or mass spectrometry. Use of split injection permitted direct injection of the products into the gas Chromatograph without the use of dilution solvents. The alternate internal standard, toluene-d8, was selected since it has physical-chemical properties which are similar to many gasoline constituents and can be quantified in gasolines under the analytical conditions described. The toluene-d8 was spiked directly into each gasoline sample at the rate of 0.5% by volume. The sample set was a series of six regular unleaded gasolines purchased at service stations operated in the Amherst, Massachusetts area. In addition, a “weathered” sample was prepared by 50% evaporation of one of the products.
