Patent ID: 6632680
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of determining the short-chain branching distribution in a hydrocarbon sample, comprising:a) obtaining infrared absorbance spectra of at least two training samples having different, known degrees of short-chain branching; b) finding at least one parameter of said absorbance spectra that correlates with the known difference in the degree of short-chain branching between said at least two training samples; c) by chemometric analysis, defining a mathematical relationship between the value of said at least one parameter and the degree of short-chain branching in said training samples; d) providing a hydrocarbon test sample and isolating at least one fraction from the hydrocarbon test sample; e) determining the value of said at least one parameter for said at least one fraction; and f) applying said mathematical relationship to said parameter values for said at least one fraction, thereby determining the degree of short-chain branching in said at least one fraction.