Chromatography

PAC provides a range of liquid and gas chromatography solutions for precise, reliable detection and analysis of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds particularly for the global petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. In petroleum and petrochemicals, determination of boiling range distribution by gas chromatography is one of the most commonly used means of characterizing hydrocarbons and their different formulations. It is fast, reliable, and fully compliant with multiple international simulated distillation methods.

Advanced Analysis Improves Plant Productivity

The petroleum and petrochemical industries face many challenges, including an ever-increasing need to improve plant productivity, environmental regulations dictating fuel composition, and continuous downsizing of refinery resources. PAC’s advanced instruments accomplish this utilizing fully automated combustion ion chromatography (CIC), which combines highly efficient combustion with the separation power of ion chromatography (IC). CIC is capable of simultaneously analyzing trace halide (F, Cl, and Br) and sulfur compounds.

Chromatography is a technique used to separate individual components (or groups) of interest from a matrix. In chromatography, a small sample is introduced in the system, manually or via automation. An analytical column is then used to separate components of interest from the matrix. A carrier, or mobile phase, takes the sample from the injection port through the column to the detector. The detector detects the components that elute from the column. Signal collection and processing is done by a computer with dedicated data acquisition software. A system can contain multiple inlets, columns, detectors and valve systems to direct the flows/components to the proper part of the analyzer. The configuration depends on the separations required, which are described or specified by methods (international, customer in-house, etc.) or are developed to match a customers analytical requests.

Specialized Turnkey Solutions

AC Analytical Controls uses chromatography techniques to build analyzers modeled on the Agilent platforms that can qualify and quantify the components in the samples that our customers are interested in detecting. AC uses the Agilent gas (and liquid) chromatography platforms and the PAC brand SFC platform to build units into specialized turnkey systems. Over the past 29 years, these complete (hardware, software and analytical) solutions have been dedicated to the refining and petrochemical industry, but they are not exclusive to these markets. AC employs gas chromatography and also provides solutions based on liquid chromatography (HPLC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). For some analyzers, special software is required to control the unit, or perform dedicated/specialized tasks and calculations. AC develops its own software, such as Reformulyzer, Simdis, DHA and Gas Analysis. In-house development of these software tools gives AC full control over these instruments and their applications.

All systems are completely assembled, tested, and calibrated before being shipped to our customers. Then a qualified engineer (PAC or distributors/service providers) installs the system and familiarizes the customer. This ensures that the system is performing in accordance with customer requirements and that it will continue to perform accordingly.

The advantage to the customer is not just the analyzer itself, since there are competitive systems available on the market, but rather the company behind the solution and the customer. This is PAC: not a single entity, but a global, stable company with well-structured, ISO-certified processes and tracking. This structure enables PAC to continue to support end users and their systems, both older and newer, even if those systems were custom configurations.

Maintaining A Competitive Edge

AC Analytical Controls offers both standard and custom analyzers and solutions utilizing chromatography techniques. Some of these standard analyzers are truly unique, such as the Reformulyzer, the AC8612, and the all-in-one Biodiesel. However, once a methodology becomes successful, and receives approval as an international standard test method, these methods are often copied by other GC manufacturers and their resellers, who ignore the important details. AC’s strive for quality, and the ability and liberty to pick the best accessories from various vendors worldwide, result in the highest quality analytical solutions.

AC’s competitive edge is our standardized approach combined with the ability to continuously develop innovative solutions for our customers problems, using the highest quality components.