Chromatography Forum

Is it possible to analyze hydrocarbon from C30-C100 using GC-MS?

I think a limiting factor may be the temperature of the transfer line, and the MS source - temps less than 380C may cause the hydrocarbons to condense. You may want to try using a high temperature capillary column (MXT-500, DB-1HT, ect...) preferably with a carborane siloxane polymer backbone, with (approximately) the following dimensions: 10m x 0.25mmID x 0.1µmdf. You could shorten the column as needed.

You may also want to ask the instrument manufacturer.

Yes, it is possible to analyze large hydrocarbons from C30 to C100 using GC-MS, but not with currently available GC-MS instrumentation.
The way we do it is with GC-MS with supersonic molecular beams that is based on a modified Varian 1200-GC-MS, which also have an upper mass range of 1500 amu. In addition to proper tail free elution of large hydrocarbons we also get dominant molecular ions.
If you or any one else wish to learn more please write me at amirav@tau.ac.il and I will be happy to Email a paper on this system and analysis
Aviv Amirav