New GC Column Cuts Bioethanol Analysis Time in Half

Torrance, CA (April 14, 2008) – Phenomenex Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of separation science consumables, introduces the Zebron™ ZB-Bioethanol column for analysis of biofuels via gas chromatography. The new column was specially designed to meet the needs of bioethanol producers who must document the concentration of methanol and denaturant in fuel ethanol before it leaves the plant. The new Phenomenex ZB-Bioethanol 30m column produces these results under 15 minutes, less than half the time required with widely used 100m columns. Phenomenex also offers a 15m option that cuts the time to under 10 minutes.

According to ASTM method D 5501, the final bioethanol quality check must be done prior to transport and sampling is typically done from the shipping truck tank. “Time is money in any industry, and the delay of loaded trucks waiting for test results is a key issue for the rapidly growing bioethanol field,” explained Sky Countryman, product manager for Phenomenex. “Our customers told us they want to complete the analysis in 15 minutes or less. Our new columns produce fast separations to meet this need.”

Zebron ZB-Bioethanol columns are also temperature-stable up to 360˚C. This advantage, combined with the fast separation time, means that the buildup of corrosion inhibitors, which is present in the gasoline that is used as the denaturant, can be baked off between runs in less than five minutes for consistent run-to-run results.

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