Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)featured with easy operation and widespread application,the methods for rapid analysis of hydrocarbon carbon number distribution in middle distillate oil and characterization of molecular composition were established by simulated carbon number cutting and correction.This method uses the same instruments with the standard analytical method NB/SH/T 0606-2019 for determining the composition of hydrocarbons in middle distillate oil.Using GC-MS with the same instrument configuration applied in NB/SH/T 0606-2019 and without adding analytical time,the hydrocarbon group composition,carbon number distribution and composition of normal and isomeric paraffins can be obtained simultaneously within 30 minutes.The carbon number distribution data measured by this method is basically consistent with the data determined by the gas chromatography-field ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(GC-FI TOFMS)using a soft ionization source.The carbon and hydrogen contents calculated from hydrocarbon molecular composition are consistent with the results determined by the standard analytical method NB/SH/T 0656-2017.The cetane number of 45 diesel fuels are predicted according to the hydrocarbon molecular composition determined by GC-MS.The deviation between the predicted and measured values is within±2.0.The problem that the hydrocarbon molecular composition of middle distillate oil can be only characterized by medium-high resolution soft ionization mass spectrometry has been solved by the established characterization method.The instrument costs and experimental time can be reduced when ensuring the data quality.
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)middle distillate oilcarbon number distributionhydrocarbon molecular compositioncetane value