Separation of crocetane and phytane and measurement of their compound-specific carbon isotopic compositions

Abstract

Crocetane and phytane are two isoprenoids isomers with similar molecular structures and often present together in methane-seep sediments and some Palaeozoic crude oils. Their commonly co-elution on gas chromatography is challenging for quality and quantity analysis, making it impossible to determine their compound-specific isotopic composition, and thus, insight their geological and geochemical significance. A new gas chromatography method is reported here using a DB-17MS column (50%-phenyl-methyl polysiloxane as the stationary phase) that successfully achieved baseline separation of crocetane and phytane and can be used to accurately identify and quantify them on gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Routine steroids and terpenoids biomarkers can also be analysed simultaneously. Additionally, their compound-specific carbon isotopic compositions were also measured without matrix influence using this method. This is the first time that a simple chromatographic method for direct determination of compound-specific carbon isotopic composition of crocetane has been reported publicly.