INTRODUCTION Gas chromatography (GC) is a common type of chromatography used for separating and analyzing organic compound that

are volatile. The sample is injected onto the head of the chromatographic column. Next, the sample will be transported through the column assisted by the flow of inert, gaseous mobile phase. A liquid stationary phase adsorbed onto the surface of an inert solid inside the column. The organic compounds are separated regarding to differences of partitioning behaviour between mobile phase and stationary phase in the column. GC instrument consists of a few physical components that is carrier gas, flow controller, sample injector, column, oven, detector and recorder. Separation of GC is based on two factors ; 1. The volatility of the compound. The higher the volatility of the compound, the faster it elute in stationary phase. 2. Solubility of compounds in the stationary phase. Less volatile compound and more soluble in stationary phase will elute later.

As for the mobile phase or carrier gas, often use a chemically inert gas such as He, N2, and O2 gas. By inert gas, it also means that the gas is 99.99% pure.Beside that, the gas must be dry and 0 2 free.

In this experiment, we use Two-Stroke (2T) engine oil which hold function in crankcase compression two-stroke engine. There is two sample of 2T oil that will be analyze which is Petronas and Shell 2T oil. The component that we want to separate is naphthalene.

Skeletal formula of Naphthalene

Generally, naphthalene is an organic compound with molecular formula of C 10H8. It hold property of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. One of its function is used as a synthetic basestock fluid for automotive and industrial lubricants. It offers

hydrolytic, thermal and oxidative stability that improves the performance of a variety of products.

OBJECTIVE 1. To determine the presence of naphthalene in two-stroke engine oil. 2. To determine the retention time of naphthalene in two-stroke engine oil.

PROCEDURE Preparation of standard 1. 5 mg of naphthalene was weighted accurately using analytical balance. 2. The naphthalene was then dissolved with Dicholoromethane in a beaker. 3. Next, the solution was transferred into 50mL volumetric flask and diluted to mark. 4. The solution is then transferred to beaker labelled 100 ppm. Sample preparation 1. 5 mg of two-stroke engine oil (Petronas) was weighted accurately using analytical balance. 2. Then, it was dissolved with Dichloromethane in a beaker. 3. The solution was transferred into 50mL volumetric flask and diluted to mark. 4. The solution is then transferred to a beaker labelled 100ppm (Petronas) 5. Step 1 until 4 is repeated for a different sample (shell)

CALCULATION Preparation of standard

5 mg of naphthalene was dissolved in 50mL volumetric flask with Dichloromethane

Sample preparation

5 mg of sample(Petronas/Shell 2T oil) Dichloromethane

was dissolved in 50mL volumetric flask with

RESULTS Retention time ( min)

Standard Two-stroke oil (Petronas ) Two-stroke oil ( Shell )

8.207 8.224

8.207 8.186

8.207 8.227

8.207 8.189

8.207 8.255

8.226

8.265

8.229

8.261

8.264

DISCUSSION In GC, the separation of sample components is based on its solubility through the stationary phase inside the column. In a sample, there are many component that differ in mobilities. . If the compound is more soluble in stationary phase, the time for the component to reach the detector will be lower. As a result, the sample components will become separated from each other as they travel through the stationary phase. In this experiment, we are doing qualitative analysis which is to determine naphthalene in a two-stroke engine oil. Thus, we must compare the retention time (t r) of known standards

(naphthalene) to tr of the compound of interest in unknown sample mixtures ( Petronas and Shell ) . Retention time, tr is the time between sample injection on a chromatographic column and the arrival of an analyte peak at the detector. There are a few precaution must be taken during conducting the GC experiment. First off, one has to make sure that the reading of analytical balance during weighing the sample and naphthalene is accurate. A tiny change of mass can alter the concentration of the compound. Secondly, when diluting the sample with Dichloromethane, it is advisable to use glove as Dichloromethane is carcinogenic. Also, when transferring the Dichloromethane in the volumetric flask, we must make sure that the solution is diluted to the mark. If it exceed, the concentration of the solution will change.

CONCLUSION The retention time of standard (naphthalene) is 8.207 . While the Petronas two-stroke oil sample is 8.224 and Shell two-stroke oil is 8.226. Thus, there is a presence of naphthalene in Petronas and Shell two-stroke oil sample.

REFERENCES

Lubricants Products Final List, UNIVAR [viewed 25 July 2013]. Available from: http://www.univareurope.com/uploads/documents/uk/Lubricants%20Product%20List %20final.pdf

Naphthalene, Wikipedia [viewed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphthalene

24

July

2013].

Available

from: