Objective

To determine toluene in gasoline by using gas chromatography method

Introduction

Toluene is used as an octane booster in gasoline fuels used in internal combustion engines. That
can produce energy in combustion process. Toluene is a volatile compound that can vaporize
easily at room temperature. Concentration of toluene can determine by using Gas
Chromatography (GC). GC is used to separate volatile compound and to analyzing the
compound without decompose. Commonly GC is uses include testing the purity of a particular
substance or separating different component of a mixture. In gas chromatography, the mobile
phase is a carrier gas, usually an inert gas such as helium or an unreactive gas such as nitrogen.
The stationary phases is microscopic layer of liquid or polymer on an inert solid support, and
then inside a piece of glass or metal tubing called a column. The gaseous compound being
analyzed interact with the walls of the column, which is coated with a stationary phase. This
causes each compound will elute at a different time, known as retention time of the compound.
The detector will read the retention time of compound from mobile phase will reach the Flame
Ionization Detector (FID).
Apparatus

1. vial
2. Syringe
3. Beaker
4. Burette
5. Volumetric flask 10ml

Chemical

1. Isoocatane
2. Gasoline
Procedures:

Preparation of Standard

I. 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0%, and 20.0% volume of toluene was prepared which five
standard sample.
II. It was transfer into 25ml volumetric flask and has been dilute to the mark with isooctane.
III. The mixture was injected into a small vial by the usage of syringe with 0.5 millipore filter
attached to it.
Toluene Volume % mL
2.50 0.63
5.00 1.25
10.00 2.50
15.00 3.75
20.00 5.00

Sample Preparation

I. Gasoline from Caltex oil was used which is sample.

II. It was injected into a small vial by the usage of syringe with 0.5 milipore
Result and calculation

(Refer graph)

student % Toluene
rahimi 2.250
latif 1.000
asma 10.875
iffa 2.750
Discussion

Based on the result from the experiment by using gas chromatography, the concentration of
toluene in sample (% v/v) is 1.00% v/v. by compares it different each other because make
mistake and not take care the precaution very well such as bubble in the syringe, not press fully
during the injection so at the column they not spread fully. In addition the eye not parallel with
the meniscus when taken the reading of syringe so because of that it affect our result and our
result is too far to other member and the sample percent contain not in range. The range about
2.5% until 20% toluene contain but our result about 1% so conclude that mistake happen during
do the experiment. In this experiment the 5 standard was prepared with different percent
concentration each other such as 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0% 15.0%, 20%. The solvent use in this
experiment is isooctane. The Ret time for the sample is 4.606. In this experiment that have
several precaution should avoid to get exactly result such as before fill the standard or sample in
vial should filter the solution its to remove undissolved particles they may damage the column.
In addition must avoid parallax error is an error in reading an instrument due to the eye of the
observer and pointer are not in line perpendicular to the plane of the scale. So they eye must
perpendicular with the meniscus. In other avoid make sure no bubble before injection because it
may affect the result and hard to obtain sharp peak. In other the syringe must rinse at least 3
times to prevent contamination of sample or standard during run the experiment.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, The concentration of the % toluene contain in gasoline is 1% mg/L .

References
(2014, august 14). Retrieved from
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Instrumental_Analysis/Chromatography/Gas
_Chromatography