Abstract
Sulfur compounds play an important factor in the specification of diesel oils. The identification of these compounds and their distribution in light gas oil (LGO) cut give useful information for refinery operation, production and instillation of hydrodesulphurization unit. In this study the isolation and characterization of sulfur compounds (0.043 wt %) in LGO produced by Ras Lanuf refinery (RASCO) were carried out. The LGO fraction was distilled from Messla + Sarir crude oil mixture at RASCO toping unit of temperature ranging from 200 to 340oC. LGO cut was separated into three fractions by atmospheric distillation (ASTM D86). The LGO
fractions [F1 205-250 oC], [F2 250-290 oC], and [F3 290-336 oC] were fractionated by column chromatography in order to isolate the respective aromatic fraction and thiophenic compounds. Sulfur compounds in LGO fractions were characterized and identified by Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).