Gas-solid chromatography of hydrocarbons on activated alumina. II. Alkane,alkene, alkyne separations and subtractive adsorption

Various alkanes,-enes and-ynes of molecular weights below C₁₀ are rapidly separated by gassolid adsorption chromatography on untreated activated alumina. Solid silver nitrate coated on alumina removes alkenes and alkynes through oxidative degradation. Silver-nitrate concentration and column temperature markedly affect olefin removal. At about 300C some of the C₈ and higher molecular weight saturated hydrocarbons are destroyed. Conditions for this subtractive chromatography are detailed, and the fate of unsaturated hydrocarbons is explained. Presented at AOCS Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif., April 1966. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.