Abstract
Acids, bases and neutral nitrogen compounds from high-boiling petroleum distillates were separated and further fractionated into fractions containing nitrogen compound types by HPLC on neutral alumina. Acids and bases were separated with anion and cation exchange resins respectively while the neutral nitrogen compounds were removed by complexation with ferric chloride supported on Attapulgus clay. The HPLC fractions were characterized by potentiometric titration for their basic and nonbasic nitrogen contents while infrared spectroscopy was used for the quantitative determination of major compound types present which are pyridines, pyrroles, amides, phenols and carboxylic acids. Characterization of individual nitrogen compounds was accomplished using gas chromatography and gas chromatography -mass spectrometry. The nitrogen compounds identified belong to three compound types which are pyridine, pyrrole and amide.