CARACTERIZACIÓN FÍSICO-QUÍMICA DE NAFTAS PRODUCIDAS EN LA REFINERÍA ESTATAL DE ESMERALDAS, MEDIANTE CROMATOGRAFÍA DE GASES

Abstract

The naphthas produced by the Esmeraldas’ State Refinery were characterized by chromatographic analysis and these results were compared with the physical properties data obtained by no chromatographic ASTM tests. The naphthas’ samples were taken at three different times from the refinery, following a standard procedure of sampling. These were transported on a cooling system to ensure that volatile components are retained. Two milliliters of the sample were taken for the GC method; the remaining of it was used for ASTM tests of: distillation, API gravity and vapor pressure. The identification and quantification of the constituents of the sample were obtained by the Chromatographic method, and the physical properties were calculated from the composition of this sample. The results of the chromatographic method are of great value for the refinery operator control and also provide a more detailed characterization of the components of naphtha (C3-C13) than the basic tests ASTM.