Ion-exchange resins in the isolation of nitrogen compounds from petroleum residues.

In this work, preparative liquid chromatography was used for the separation of the nitrogen compounds in a sample of heavy gas oil from a Brazilian petroleum. Initially it took place a pre-fractionation by neutral aluminium oxide and the compounds were separated in different classes such as: hydrocarbons, resins (compounds of low molecular mass and intermediate polarity) and asphalthenes (polar compounds with high molecular mass). A comparison of the fraction of resins was performed by re-fractionating with modified silica (with potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid), or with ion exchange resins (Amberlyst A-27 and A-15), being isolated the basic and neutral compounds, that were analyzed by GC-MS in the scan and selected ion monitoring modes. Quinolines, benzoquinolines, tetrahydroquinolines were found in the basic fraction and carbazoles derivatives were found in the neutral fraction.