Hydrocarbon Content Testing: Methods, Standards & Material Applications

What Is Hydrocarbon Content Testing?

Hydrocarbon content testing quantifies the amount and composition of hydrocarbon compounds — carbon-hydrogen chain and ring compounds — present in a sample. Hydrocarbons range from simple gases (methane, ethane) to complex mixtures (crude oil, natural gas condensate, petroleum products) and trace-level contaminants in water, soil, or industrial materials.

Accurate hydrocarbon content measurement is essential for fuel quality control, environmental site assessment, process stream analysis, product compliance testing, and materials purity verification — across the energy, environmental, chemical manufacturing, and materials industries.

Types of Hydrocarbons and Their Analysis

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)

TPH is the broadest hydrocarbon measurement category — quantifying the total concentration of dissolved or extractable petroleum-derived hydrocarbons in environmental samples (soil, groundwater, sediment). TPH analysis is the primary parameter for assessing petroleum contamination extent and cleanup progress at fuel spill and underground storage tank (UST) release sites.

Key methods:

• EPA Method 8015C (Modified): GC/FID-based quantification of C8–C36 hydrocarbons in soil and water — the primary EPA method for TPH with carbon range fractionation
• EPA Method 418.1: IR-based TPH measurement in water using Freon extraction — being phased out due to Freon restrictions
• Massachusetts EPH (Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons): Fractionated TPH analysis distinguishing aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon ranges — used for risk-based site cleanup assessment

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Including Hydrocarbons

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) are the most regulated volatile aromatic hydrocarbons — carcinogens (benzene) and nuisance compounds (BTEX) from fuel spills and industrial releases.

Key methods:

• EPA Method 8260C: GC/MS-based VOC analysis in soil, water, and sediment — quantifying BTEX and numerous other volatile hydrocarbons
• ASTM D5790 (purge and trap GC/MS for water): Volatile aromatics in aqueous samples

Aliphatic vs. Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fractionation

Environmental risk assessment and remediation criteria frequently distinguish between aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes, cycloalkanes—lower toxicity) and aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene-ring compounds—generally higher toxicity and regulatory concern). Silica gel cleanup of extracts followed by fractionated GC/FID analysis distinguishes these fractions.

Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltenes (SARA Analysis)

For crude oils and heavy petroleum products, SARA fractionation separates the four major chemical families — quantifying their relative proportions to characterize crude oil composition, refining behavior, and product quality.

ASTM D2007 (IP143): Chromatographic separation of saturate, aromatic, and polar fractions in petroleum products.

GC Simulated Distillation (SIMDIS — ASTM D2887, D7169)

Gas chromatography is used to simulate the distillation curve of petroleum products and crude oils — providing boiling point distribution from C5 to C120 (ASTM D7169) in a single GC run rather than requiring physical fractional distillation. SIMDIS data guides refinery cut-point optimization and product quality control.

Hydrocarbon Content in Non-Petroleum Contexts

Polymer and Elastomer Extractables

Hydrocarbon solvents and processing oils in polymers and rubbers are quantified by Soxhlet extraction or reflux extraction with hexane or heptane — measuring hydrocarbon extractables content for polymer quality control and REACH substance compliance.

Food and Pharmaceutical Contamination

Mineral hydrocarbon contamination of food (MOSH — Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons; MOAH — Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons) from packaging migration, recycled paperboard, or processing equipment lubricants is a significant food safety concern. MOSH/MOAH analysis by HPLC-GC/FID with online coupling quantifies these contaminants at mg/kg levels in foods and packaging materials.

Air Emissions

Total hydrocarbon (THC) monitoring in industrial air emissions, vehicle exhaust, and fugitive emissions uses flame ionization detection (FID) — the most sensitive and widely used detector for hydrocarbon monitoring in air quality and emissions compliance applications.

Key Analytical Techniques

GC/FID (Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection): The workhorse technique for hydrocarbon analysis — provides sensitive, universal detection of all hydrocarbon compounds. Used for TPH fractionation, SIMDIS, BTEX analysis, and routine petroleum product quality testing.

GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry): Combines GC separation with mass spectrometric identification and quantification — enabling definitive identification of specific hydrocarbon compounds in complex mixtures. Essential for EPA VOC analysis (Method 8260C) and source characterization.

HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography): Used for aromatic hydrocarbon separation and SARA fractionation — complementing GC for less volatile and higher-molecular-weight hydrocarbon fractions.

IR Spectroscopy (FTIR, Dispersive IR): Used for TPH screening in water and soil using carbon-hydrogen absorption bands — fast, but less specific than GC-based methods. Historically used in EPA Method 418.1 (now largely displaced by GC methods).

ICP-MS and ICP-OES: Used for metals analysis in petroleum products and hydrocarbon streams — measuring vanadium, nickel, sodium, and trace contaminant metals that affect refinery catalyst life and product quality.

Industry Applications

Environmental: TPH and BTEX analysis in groundwater and soil at petroleum release sites — the primary data for regulatory compliance assessment and remediation progress monitoring.

Petroleum Refining: SIMDIS, SARA analysis, viscosity, flash point, and hydrocarbon type analysis for crude oil characterization, refinery process control, and product quality certification.

Natural Gas: Hydrocarbon dew point, composition analysis (C1–C6+ by GC), and heating value calculation for pipeline quality compliance and commercial natural gas measurement.

Automotive and Transportation: Fuel hydrocarbon composition affects combustion characteristics, emissions, and materials compatibility — hydrocarbon type analysis (ASTM D1319, D6293) is performed for fuel qualification.

Conclusion

Hydraulic fluid testing — incorporating methods such as ASTM D445, ASTM D943, ASTM D2271/D2882, ASTM D471, ASTM D1401, ASTM D892, and ASTM D665, along with ISO cleanliness standards — provides a comprehensive evaluation of fluid performance, stability, and compatibility across hydraulic systems. These tests assess viscosity, oxidation resistance, anti-wear properties, contamination control, and interaction with system materials to ensure reliable operation. Selecting the appropriate testing protocols based on fluid type, operating conditions, and application requirements is essential for maintaining system efficiency, preventing component failure, and extending service life — making the testing strategy as important as the performance results themselves.

Why Choose Infinita Lab for Hydrocarbon Content Testing?

Infinita Lab offers comprehensive hydrocarbon content testing services — GC/FID TPH fractionation, GC/MS VOC analysis, SARA fractionation, SIMDIS, MOSH/MOAH food contact analysis, and air emission THC monitoring — across its network of 2,000+ accredited labs in the USA. Our advanced analytical capabilities and expert team deliver highly accurate, regulatory-compliant results for environmental, petroleum, and materials testing programs.

Looking for a trusted partner to achieve your research goals? Schedule a meeting with us, send us a request, or call us at (888) 878-3090 to learn more about our services and how we can support you. Request a Quote.

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