Abstract: A method for the extraction and analysis of C₁₀-C₄₀ petroleum hydrocarbons in refinery waste catalysts was established by using accelerated solvent extraction-gas chromatography method. The purification effects of solid phase extraction columns with different packings and elution solvents were investigated. The analysis conditions of gas chromatography were optimized, and the accuracy and the recovery rate of the method were evaluated. The results showed that the suitable column for petroleum hydrocarbon extraction was magnesium silicate column or silica gel solid phase extraction column, and the suitable elution solvents were n-hexane-dichloromethane mixed solvent with a volume ratio of 4:1(magnesium silicate column) and n-hexane-dichloromethane mixed solvent with a volume ratio of 9:1(silica gel column) , respectively. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon recoveries of the two extraction columns were 94%-100%, and the calibration curves of n-alkanes were determined by GC-FID with a relative deviation of 0.6%-10.9% and a 0.999 3, respectively; the recoveries of n-alkanes and heavy oil were 74% and 84%, respectively, which showed that the method could meet the analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons in refinery waste catalysts. The carbon number distribution and content of petroleum hydrocarbon (C₁₀-C₄₀) in different sources of refinery catalyst were found to be significantly different, this was mainly related to the corresponding process and raw material characteristics of the waste catalyst.

Key words: refinery, waste catalyst, petroleum hydrocarbons, extraction, purify, gas chromatography