SEPARATION OF PHENOLS AND AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS FROM BIOMASS TAR USING AMINOPROPYLSILANE NORMAL-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A quantitative procedure for the determination of selected phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons in biomass tar is described. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) through columns of amino-bonded silica stationary phase was used to separate tar samples into two fractions. These fractions were subjected to capillary gas chromatography using a DB-1 fused-silica column and a flame ionization detector. The efficiency of the method was determined by the use of synthetic and spiked tar samples. Excellent reproducibility and high recoveries were obtained for most of the target compounds. Compared with the traditional liquid-liquid extraction technique, the SPE technique eliminates the problems involved and provides higher overall recoveries in a shorter time.