Preparation and SARA separation

Oil samples or rock extracts can be separated in SATURATES, AROMATICS, RESINS and ASPHALTHENES (SARA):
- Preparation of SARA fractions by MPLC
- Preparation of SATURATES and AROMATIC fractions by SPE
- FID-TLC (Iatroscan)
Iatroscan is a qualitative analysis, whereas the MPLC and SPE methods are preparative: these methods are used to prepare fractions for further analysis, such as bulk isotoopes or SAT/ARO GC.

Gas Chromatography (GC) analysis

Since oil samples can differ vastly from each other, each customer has their own specific specifications or wishes. Isolab can modify the GC-analysis to match the needs of the customer. A few standard analyses are available:

- Detailed GC of light components (C7GC), all components from propane up to toluene are integrated
- Whole oil GC, major components are integrated
Whole oil GC analysis also possible on rock extracts, or on SATURATES and AROMATIC fractions

Bulk isotopes

For bulk isotope analysis, samples are not separated by GC before analysis; the reported value is the mean for all carbon atoms in the samples.
Bulk isotopes are measured by Elemental Analyzer (EA) IRMS:

- Bulk carbon isotopes of whole oil, rock extract or oil fractions
- Bulk hydrogen isotopes of whole oil, rock extract or oil fractions
Isolab can also measure the bulk isotope of rock samples or other sample types

Isotopes of oil components (CSIA)

With Component Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA), oil samples are separated into their individual components by a combination of preparative techniques and Gas Chromatography (GC). The stable isotopes from a selection of these components are measured by GC-Combustion or GC-Pyrolysis IRMS:
- Carbon or hydrogen isotopes of n-alkanes (C8-C30)
- Carbon isotopes of light hydrocarbons (C7 CSIA)
- Carbon of hydrogen isotopes of Pristane and Phytane