ABSTRACT
Several different approaches to the compositional analysis of a petroleum and its fractions have been taken which vary in terms of expense and information content. Some of these will be discussed in the following chapters. The simplest way is the measurement of certain physical and chemical properties. More information is provided by the group-type characterization methods. Fractionation into compound groups and compound classes (Chapter 6), especially combined with molecular characterization by MS and other spectroscopic methods, not only yields the most detailed and comprehensive compositional data but also carries the greatest expense.
