Stay ahead in developing green energy solutions: Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis for jet fuel using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis for Jet Fuel

Relevance of the topic

Biodiesel derived from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) is a renewable alternative to conventional jet fuel. Accurate measurement of FAME content is critical for aviation safety and regulatory compliance, as FAMEs can alter freezing behavior and interact with engine materials at high altitude.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application evaluates the Thermo Scientific ISQ 7610 single quadrupole GC-MS system, following Energy Institute Method IP 585. The aim is to demonstrate robust, accurate quantification of FAMEs in jet fuel over wide concentration ranges, with reduced analysis time and sustained instrument performance.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Kerosene was spiked with a FAME standard mixture (C16:0 to C18:3) and methyl heptadecanoate-d33 internal standard. Calibration standards (2–100 mg/kg) and spike samples at 5 and 50 mg/kg were prepared. Analysis used a TRACE 1610 GC with a 60 m TR-FAME column and helium carrier gas, coupled to the ISQ 7610 MS with ExtractaBrite ion source. Simultaneous full scan (m/z 50–550) and timed-SIM acquisition enabled sensitive, selective detection.

• GC system: Thermo Scientific TRACE 1610
• Column: TR-FAME 60 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm
• Autosampler: TriPlus RSH
• MS detector: ISQ 7610 with XLXR detector and ExtractaBrite source
• Ionization: Electron impact, 70 eV
• Acquisition: Full scan and t-SIM

Key Results and Discussion

All six FAMEs were baseline-resolved in under 24 minutes, cutting run time by 20 minutes versus the original IP 585 protocol. Detection limits below 1 mg/kg were achieved using t-SIM. Calibration across low (2–10 mg/kg), high (20–100 mg/kg) and overall ranges showed r² values >0.998. Spike recoveries were 87–94% at both 5 and 50 mg/kg. Long-term robustness was confirmed with %RSD of 1.5–3.0% over 96 injections and <10% signal loss after 230 injections over seven days.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid, sensitive quantification of FAMEs in jet fuel
• High throughput with shorter run times
• Reliable results using a single calibration curve
• Minimal maintenance and high uptime
• Meets stringent aviation fuel standards

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Advances may include expanded analysis of novel biofuel blends, integration of chemometric and AI tools for enhanced data interpretation, and development of portable GC-MS platforms for field testing. Further detector enhancements could extend dynamic range and reduce sample preparation.

Conclusion

The ISQ 7610 GC-MS system with XLXR detector offers a robust, efficient, and sensitive approach for routine FAME analysis in jet fuel. It achieves faster separations, excellent linearity, accurate recoveries, and long-term stability, supporting reliable quality control in aviation.

References

1. Rochelle D, Najafi HA. A review of the effect of biodiesel on gas turbine emissions and performance. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2019;105:129-137.
2. Foteinis S, Chatzisymeon E, Litinas A, Tsoutsos T. Used-cooking-oil biodiesel: Life cycle assessment and comparison with first- and third-generation biofuel. Renew Energy. 2020;153:588-600.
3. IEA. Global Energy Review 2021. Paris: International Energy Agency; 2021.
4. Energy Institute. IP 585: Determination of fatty acid methyl esters derived from biodiesel in aviation turbine fuel by GC-MS SIM/scan detection. 2010.