Exploring TGA-GC-MS for Comprehensive Biofuel Analysis

The rapid growth of renewable fuels in refinery operations introduces new analytical challenges due to their chemical complexity and variability. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) provides a powerful hyphenated platform to characterize evolved volatiles and thermal degradation products in biofuel streams, which are from New Hope Pilot plant, a joint venture of New Hope and Lummus. In this work, we explore the use of TGA-GC-MS to perform compositional analysis of bio-oils with single and multiple GC injections of evolved gases from distinct TGA weight loss events for one analysis. The combined technique provides richer information than either method alone can provide. The decomposition temperatures and composition of several biofuel products were investigated by analyzing the complex mass loss events observed during TGA analysis. Then GC/MS allows the separation and identification of the evolved gases associated with each stage of evaporation and thermal degradation. TGA reveals decomposition temperatures and mass loss events, while GC-MS identifies individual species associated with each stage of degradation. TGA-GC-MS demonstrates strong potential as a tool for screening feedstocks, monitoring quality and supporting the integration of renewable fuels into refinery operations.