Analysis of Dibenzyltoluene Mixtures: From Fast Analysis to In-Depth Characterization of the Compounds
Xiaolong Ji,
Essyllt Louarn,
Fabienne Fache,
Laurent Vanoye,
Anne Bonhommé,
Isabelle Pitault,
Valérie Meille
Affiliations
Xiaolong Ji
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, F-69626 Villeurbanne, France
Essyllt Louarn
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, F-69626 Villeurbanne, France
Fabienne Fache
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ICBMS, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France
Laurent Vanoye
Laboratory of Catalysis, Polymerization, Processes & Materials, Institut de Chimie de Lyon, Université de Lyon, CP2M UMR 5128 CNRS-UCB Lyon 1-CPE Lyon, CPE Lyon 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France
Anne Bonhommé
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, F-69626 Villeurbanne, France
Isabelle Pitault
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France
Valérie Meille
Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, F-69626 Villeurbanne, France
The so-called dibenzyltoluene (H0-DBT) heat transfer oil contains numerous isomers of dibenzyltoluene as well as (benzyl)benzyltoluene (methyl group on the central vs. the side aromatic ring). As it is used as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), a detailed analysis of its composition is crucial in assessing the kinetic rate of hydrogenation for each constituent and studying the mechanism of H0-DBT hydrogenation. To identify all of the compounds in the oil, an in-depth analysis of the GC–MS spectra was performed. To confirm peak attribution, we synthesized some DBTs and characterized the pure compounds using NMR and Raman spectroscopies. Moreover, a fast-GC analysis was developed to rapidly determine the degree of hydrogenation of the mixture.