Thin-Layer Chromatography for Hydrocarbon Characterization in Petroleum Middle Distillates

Petroleum is fractionated according to its boiling point by distillation methods. Depending on the boiling point range of the sample, fractionated products fall into three main categories: light, middle and heavy distillates. Middle distillates (from approximately 150°C to 400°C, which approximately corresponds to C9-C24) are mostly used for heating and transportation fuels (e.g., diesel, jet fuel, gas oil, aviation turbine oils, kerosene).