Study of alkyl phosphates in industrial petroleum mixtures by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Dialkyl phosphate esters used as gellants in some oil well fracturing processes for conventional oil production can result in contamination of the collected crude. Though the exact mechanism is unclear, such compounds form volatile phosphorus that compromises refinery processes. Our initial research involved producing a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic method (GC × GC) for the detection and quantification of alkyl phosphate esters in petroleum samples, which surpassed the current method employed in sensitivity and speciation capabilities.