Detailed compositional characterization of plastic waste pyrolysis oil by comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatography coupled to multiple detectors

Conversion of Polypropylene into Light Hydrocarbons and Aromatics by Metal Exchanged Zeolite Catalysts

Polyolefins can be converted into C2-C5 hydrocarbons and benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) aromatics as high-demand petrochemical feedstocks via catalytic pyrolysis on acidic zeolites. Bro̷nsted and Lewis acid sites are responsible for cracking polyolefins into olefins and subsequent aromatic formation. In this study, we have subjected the parent HZSM-5 zeolite to postsynthetic partial metal exchange with Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Ce cations to perturb Bro̷nsted/Lewis acidity. We have investigated these metal-modified HZSM-5 on the catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP) in a micropyrolyzer connected to a two-dimensional gas chromatograph coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and flame ionization detector (Tandem Pyrolyzer-GC × GC-TOF-MS/FID setup). Whereas Fe-, Co-, Cu-, and Ce-exchanged zeolites (with 2.5, 2.3, 1.9, and 0.8 wt % metal, respectively) had comparable product yields with the parent zeolite, Ni-exchanged zeolites with Ni content of 0.5 to 2 wt % were associated with enhanced BTX formation (28-38 wt %) compared to that of the parent zeolite (22 wt %). Pyridine-FTIR indicated that the Bro̷nsted/Lewis acid ratio of the parent zeolite decreased upon metal ion exchange. According to Pyridine-TPD, the parent zeolite's medium-strength acid sites were redistributed into weak and strong acid sites in Ni-exchanged zeolites. The higher amount of carbon deposits on Ni-exchanged zeolites compared to the parent and other metal ion exchanged zeolites was attributed to the enhanced aromatization activity by the simultaneous decrease in the Bro̷nsted/Lewis acid ratio and emergence of strong acid sites.

Comparing different methods for olefin quantification in pygas and plastic pyrolysis oils: Gas chromatography-vacuum ultraviolet detection versus comprehensive gas chromatography versus bromine number titration

In steam cracking, upstream pyrolysis oil hydroprocessing, and in many downstream processes, olefinic content is key to assess process performance and process safety risk associated with highly exothermic reactions. When looking to plastic pyrolysis oils as a potential feedstock, as well as downstream products such as pyrolysis gasoline (pygas), these materials contain unsaturated hydrocarbons which are not present in fossil feedstocks. Pygas is a product of pyrolysis and exhibits a large number of chemical structural similarities with plastic pyrolysis oils, especially in terms of olefins structure. Quantification of the unsaturation content (olefins and di-olefins) is extremely important in industry, hence the focus of this manuscript. Detailed hydrocarbon analysis with flame ionization detection is inadequate to fully characterize the hydrocarbon composition of such samples, especially when peaks are closely eluting, or even co-eluting. In this study, the gas chromatography coupled to vacuum ultraviolet (GC-VUV) detection method previously described for the analysis of liquid hydrocarbon streams1 and plastic pyrolysis oils2 has been compared with comprehensive gas chromatography (GC × GC) and the industry standard for olefin quantification (i.e., bromine number titration). Although based on different methodologies, a correlation between the olefin content obtained from GC-VUV and the bromine number titration method is hereby presented.

Quantitative analyses of products and rates in polyethylene depolymerization and upcycling

Depolymerization and upcycling are promising approaches to managing plastic waste. However, quantitative measurements of reaction rates and analyses of complex product mixtures arising from depolymerization of polyolefins constitute significant challenges in this emerging field. Here, we detail techniques for recovery and analysis of products arising from batch depolymerization of polyethylene. We also describe quantitative analyses of reaction rates and products selectivity. This protocol can be extended to depolymerization of other plastics and characterization of other product mixtures including long-chain olefins. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sun et al.1.

GC-FTICR mass spectrometry with dopant assisted atmospheric pressure photoionization: application to the characterization of plastic pyrolysis oil

Pyrolysis is a promising way to convert plastic waste into valuable resources. However, for downstream upgrading processes, many undesirable species, such as conjugated diolefins or heteroatom-containing compounds, can be generated during this pyrolysis. In-depth chemical characterization is therefore required to improve conversion and valorization. Because of the high molecular diversity found in these samples, advanced analytical instrumentation is needed to provide accurate and complete characterization. Generally, direct infusion Fourier transform mass spectrometry is used to gather information at the molecular level, but it has the disadvantage of limited structural insights. To overcome this drawback, gas chromatography has been coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. By taking advantage of soft atmospheric pressure photoionization, which preserves molecular information, and the use of different dopants (pyrrole, toluene, and benzene), selective ionization of different chemical families was achieved. Differences in the ionization energy of the dopants will only allow the ionization of the molecules of the pyrolysis oil which have lower ionization energy, or which are accessible via specific chemical ionization pathways. With a selective focus on hydrocarbon species and especially hydrocarbon species having a double bond equivalent (DBE) value of 2, pyrrole is prone to better ionize low-mass molecules with lower retention times compared to the dopant benzene, which allowed better ionization of high-mass molecules with higher retention times. The toluene dopant presented the advantage of ionizing both low and high mass molecules.

Potential of GC-Combustion-MS as a Powerful and Versatile Nitrogen-Selective Detector in Gas Chromatography

Here, we show the potential and applicability of the novel GC-combustion-MS approach as a nitrogen-selective GC detector. Operating requirements to achieve reproducible and compound-independent formation of volatile NO species as a selective N-signal during the combustion step are described. Specifically, high temperatures (≥1000 °C) and post-column O2 flows (0.4 mL min-1 of 0.3% O2 in He) turned out to be necessary when using a vertical oven without makeup flow (prototype #1). In contrast, the use of a horizontal oven with 1.7 mL min-1 He as an additional makeup flow (prototype #2) required milder conditions (850 °C and 0.2 mL min-1). A detection limit of 0.02 pg of N injected was achieved, which is by far the lowest ever reported for any GC detector. Equimolarity, linearity, and peak shape were also adequate. Validation of the approach was performed by the analysis of a certified reference material obtaining accurate (2% error) and precise (2% RSD) results. Robustness was tested with the analysis of two complex samples with different matrices (diesel and biomass pyrolysis oil) and N concentration levels. Total N determined after the integration of the whole chromatograms (524 ± 22 and 11,140 ± 330 μg N g-1, respectively) was in good agreement with the reference values (497 ± 10 and 11,000 ± 1200 μg N g-1, respectively). In contrast, GC-NCD results were lower for the diesel sample (394 ± 42 μg N g-1). Quantitative values for the individual and families of N species identified in the real samples by parallel GC-MS and additional GC × GC-MS analyses were also obtained using a single generic internal standard.

Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels

Due to its resistance to natural degradation and decomposition, plastic debris perseveres in the environment for centuries. As a lucrative material for packing industries and consumer products, plastics have become one of the major components of municipal solid waste today. The recycling of plastics is becoming difficult due to a lack of resource recovery facilities and a lack of efficient technologies to separate plastics from mixed solid waste streams. This has made oceans the hotspot for the dispersion and accumulation of plastic residues beyond landfills. This article reviews the sources, geographical occurrence, characteristics and recyclability of different types of plastic waste. This article presents a comprehensive summary of promising thermochemical technologies, such as pyrolysis, liquefaction and gasification, for the conversion of single-use plastic wastes to clean fuels. The operating principles, drivers and barriers for plastic-to-fuel technologies via pyrolysis (non-catalytic, catalytic, microwave and plasma), as well as liquefaction and gasification, are thoroughly discussed. Thermochemical co-processing of plastics with other organic waste biomass to produce high-quality fuel and energy products is also elaborated upon. Through this state-of-the-art review, it is suggested that, by investing in the research and development of thermochemical recycling technologies, one of the most pragmatic issues today, i.e., plastics waste management, can be sustainably addressed with a greater worldwide impact.

The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research

One convenient strategy to reduce environmental impact and pollution involves the reuse and revalorization of waste produced by modern society. Nowadays, global plastic production has reached 367 million tons per year and because of their durable nature, their recycling is fundamental for the achievement of the circular economy objective. In closing the loop of plastics, advanced recycling, i.e., the breakdown of plastics into their building blocks and their transformation into valuable secondary raw materials, is a promising management option for post-consumer plastic waste. The most valuable product from advanced recycling is a fluid hydrocarbon stream (or pyrolysis oil) which represents the feedstock for further refinement and processing into new plastics. In this context, gas chromatography is currently playing an important role since it is being used to study the pyrolysis oils, as well as any organic contaminants, and it can be considered a high-resolution separation technique, able to provide the molecular composition of such complex samples. This information significantly helps to tailor the pyrolysis process to produce high-quality feedstocks. In addition, the detection of contaminants (i.e., heteroatom-containing compounds) is crucial to avoid catalytic deterioration and to implement and design further purification processes. The current review highlights the importance of molecular characterization of waste stream products, and particularly the pyrolysis oils obtained from waste plastics. An overview of relevant applications published recently will be provided, and the potential of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography, which represents the natural evolution of gas chromatography into a higher-resolution technique, will be underlined.

Maximizing olefin production via steam cracking of distilled pyrolysis oils from difficult-to-recycle municipal plastic waste and marine litter

Plastic waste is steadily polluting oceans and environments. Even if collected, most waste is still predominantly incinerated for energy recovery at the cost of CO₂. Chemical recycling can contribute to the transition towards a circular economy with pyrolysis combined with steam cracking being the favored recycling option for the time being. However, today, the high variety and contamination of real waste remains the biggest challenge. This is especially relevant for waste fractions which are difficult or even impossible to recycle mechanically such as highly mixed municipal plastic waste or marine litter. In this work, we studied the detailed composition and the steam cracking performance of distilled pyrolysis oil fractions in the naphtha-range of two highly relevant waste fractions: mixed municipal plastic waste (MPW) considered unsuitable for mechanical recycling and marine litter (ML) collected from the sea bottom. Advanced analytical techniques including comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled with various detectors and inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were applied to characterize the feedstocks and to understand how their properties affect the steam cracking performance. Both waste-derived naphtha fractions were rich in olefins and aromatics (~70% in MPW naphtha and ~51% in ML naphtha) next to traces of nitrogen, oxygen, chlorine and metals. ICP-MS analyses showed that sodium, potassium, silicon and iron were the most crucial metals that should be removed in further upgrading steps. Steam cracking of the waste-derived naphtha fractions resulted in lower light olefin yields compared to fossil naphtha used as benchmark, due to secondary reactions of aromatics and olefins. Coke formation of ML naphtha was slightly increased compared to fossil naphtha (+ ~50%), while that of MPW naphtha was more than ~180% higher. It was concluded that mild upgrading of the waste-derived naphtha fractions or dilution with fossil feedstocks is sufficient to provide feedstocks suitable for industrial steam cracking.

Speciation and Semiquantification of Nitrogen-Containing Species in Complex Mixtures: Application to Plastic Pyrolysis Oil

Plastic pyrolysis oil is of particular interest for waste management in the current context of a circular economy. Due to their uncontrolled origin, these oils may contain significant amount of unwanted compounds such as nitrogen-containing species. These compounds are known to be catalyst poisons during refining processes. Therefore, the removal of these species is crucial, and their characterization from structural and quantification points of view is essential for this purpose. This study presents a method to specify and quantify nitrogen-containing classes in a plastic pyrolysis oil by direct infusion mass spectrometry. Two steps were used, namely structural characterization to select suitable standards and semiquantification. The structural speciation of nitrogen-containing compounds was first performed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry, followed by tandem mass spectrometry using high-resolution mass isolation and infrared multiphoton dissociation fragmentation. A semiquantification is then performed by the standard addition method, which is very appropriate for such complex matrices. Aromatic cores such as quinoline and quinoxaline were evidenced for both N₁ and N₂ classes, allowing 2-methylquinoxaline and 2-butylquinoline to be proposed as standards for the semiquantification of N₂- and N₁-containing compounds, respectively. The amount of nitrogen detected from the sum of the individual species was consistent with the bulk analysis. The reported methodology can be applied to numerous other families of compounds in various other complex matrices.

Recent Advances in the Decontamination and Upgrading of Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Products: An Overview

Extensive research on the production of energy and valuable materials from plastic waste using pyrolysis has been widely conducted during recent years. Succeeding in demonstrating the sustainability of this technology economically and technologically at an industrial scale is a great challenge. In most cases, crude pyrolysis products cannot be used directly for several reasons, including the presence of contaminants. This is confirmed by recent studies, using advanced characterization techniques such as two-dimensional gas chromatography. Thus, to overcome these limitations, post-treatment methods, such as dechlorination, distillation, catalytic upgrading and hydroprocessing, are required. Moreover, the integration of pyrolysis units into conventional refineries is only possible if the waste plastic is pre-treated, which involves sorting, washing and dehalogenation. The different studies examined in this review showed that the distillation of plastic pyrolysis oil allows the control of the carbon distribution of different fractions. The hydroprocessing of pyrolytic oil gives promising results in terms of reducing contaminants, such as chlorine, by one order of magnitude. Recent developments in plastic waste and pyrolysis product characterization methods are also reported in this review. The application of pyrolysis for energy generation or added-value material production determines the economic sustainability of the process.

Assessing the feasibility of chemical recycling via steam cracking of untreated plastic waste pyrolysis oils: Feedstock impurities, product yields and coke formation

Chemical recycling of plastic waste to base chemicals via pyrolysis and subsequent steam cracking of pyrolysis oils shows great potential to overcome the limitations in present means of plastic waste recycling. In this scenario, the largest concern is the feasibility. Are plastic waste pyrolysis products acceptable steam cracking feedstocks in terms of composition, product yields and coke formation? In this work, steam cracking of two post-consumer plastic waste pyrolysis oils blended with fossil naphtha was performed in a continuous bench-scale unit without prior treatment. Product yields and radiant coil coke formation were benchmarked to fossil naphtha as an industrial feedstock. Additionally, the plastic waste pyrolysis oils were thoroughly characterized. Analyses included two dimensional gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector for the detailed hydrocarbon composition as well as specific analyses for heteroatoms, halogens and metals. It was found that both pyrolysis oils are rich in olefins (∼48 wt%) and that the main impurities are nitrogen, oxygen, chlorine, bromine, aluminum, calcium and sodium. Steam cracking of the plastic waste derived feedstocks led to ethylene yields of ∼23 wt% at a coil outlet temperature of 820 °C and ∼28 wt% at 850 °C, exceeding the ethylene yield of pure naphtha at both conditions (∼22 wt% and ∼27 wt%, respectively). High amounts of heavy products were formed when steam cracking both pyrolysis oils, respectively. Furthermore, a substantial coking tendency was observed for the more contaminated pyrolysis oil, indicating that next to unsaturated hydrocarbons, contaminants are a strong driver for coke formation.

Pyrolysis of end-of-life polystyrene in a pilot-scale reactor: Maximizing styrene production

Chemical recycling of polystyrene (PS) via pyrolysis is of great industrial, and academic interest, with styrene being the primary product of interest. To identify the optimal process conditions, the pyrolysis of end-of-life PS was studied in a pilot-scale unit consisting of an extruder, and a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The PS was pyrolyzed with continuous feeding at a pressure range from 0.02 to 1.0bara, and a temperature range from 450 to 600 °C, giving primarily styrene, other mono-aromatics, and oligomers. The comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled with flame ionization detector (FID), and time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ToF-MS) as well as GC with thermal conductivity detector (TCD) were used to characterize the liquid, and gaseous products exhaustively. The styrene yield increased from 36 wt% at 1.0bara, and 450 °C to 56 wt% at 0.02bara, and 550 °C. Working under a vacuum enhanced the styrene recovery at all corresponding temperature levels. The yield of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) increased from 4 wt% at 450 °C, and 0.02 bara to 17 wt% at 450 °C, and 1.0 bara. The experimental results have been used in a mathematical model that can explain the combined effect of temperature, and pressure on the yield of the primary products. The present work illustrates the potential of a continuous pyrolysis process for end-of-life PS, and paves the way for this technology to be rapidly transferred from mere laboratory use to industrial processes in the circular (petro-) chemical industry.

Opportunities and challenges for the application of post-consumer plastic waste pyrolysis oils as steam cracker feedstocks: To decontaminate or not to decontaminate?

Thermochemical recycling of plastic waste to base chemicals via pyrolysis followed by a minimal amount of upgrading and steam cracking is expected to be the dominant chemical recycling technology in the coming decade. However, there are substantial safety and operational risks when using plastic waste pyrolysis oils instead of conventional fossil-based feedstocks. This is due to the fact that plastic waste pyrolysis oils contain a vast amount of contaminants which are the main drivers for corrosion, fouling and downstream catalyst poisoning in industrial steam cracking plants. Contaminants are therefore crucial to evaluate the steam cracking feasibility of these alternative feedstocks. Indeed, current plastic waste pyrolysis oils exceed typical feedstock specifications for numerous known contaminants, e.g. nitrogen (∼1650 vs. 100 ppm max.), oxygen (∼1250 vs. 100 ppm max.), chlorine (∼1460vs. 3 ppm max.), iron (∼33 vs. 0.001 ppm max.), sodium (∼0.8 vs. 0.125 ppm max.)and calcium (∼17vs. 0.5 ppm max.). Pyrolysis oils produced from post-consumer plastic waste can only meet the current specifications set for industrial steam cracker feedstocks if they are upgraded, with hydrogen based technologies being the most effective, in combination with an effective pre-treatment of the plastic waste such as dehalogenation. Moreover, steam crackers are reliant on a stable and predictable feedstock quality and quantity representing a challenge with plastic waste being largely influenced by consumer behavior, seasonal changes and local sorting efficiencies. Nevertheless, with standardization of sorting plants this is expected to become less problematic in the coming decade.

Chemical Recycling of Plastic Marine Litter: First Analytical Characterization of The Pyrolysis Oil and of Its Fractions and Comparison with a Commercial Marine Gasoil

A detailed molecular fingerprint of raw pyrolysis oil from plastic wastes is a new research area. The present study focuses for the first time on the chemical recycling of plastic marine litter; we aim to chemically characterize the obtained raw pyrolysis oil and its distillates (virgin naphtha and marine gasoil) via GC-MS and FT-IR. For all samples, more than 30% of the detected compounds were identified. 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene, a marker of PP pyrolysis, is the most represented peak in the chemical signature of all the marine litter pyrolysis samples, and it differentiates commercial and pyrolysis marine gasoil. The presence of naphthalenes is stronger in commercial gasoil, compared to its pyrolysis analog, while the opposite holds for olefins. The overlap between the two molecular fingerprints is impressive, even if saturated hydrocarbons are more common in commercial gasoil, and unsaturated compounds are more common in the gasoil derived from pyrolysis. A technical comparison between the commercial marine gasoil and the one obtained from the marine litter pyrolysis is also attempted. Gasoil derived from marine litter fully complies with the ISO8217 standards for distillate marine fuel. On the other hand, the virgin naphtha is particularly rich in BTX, ethylbenzene, styrene, and alpha olefins, which are all important recoverable platform chemicals for industrial upcycling.

Detailed Group-Type Characterization of Plastic-Waste Pyrolysis Oils: By Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography Including Linear, Branched, and Di-Olefins

Plastic-waste pyrolysis oils contain large amounts of linear, branched, and di-olefinic compounds. This makes it not obvious to determine the detailed group-type composition in particular to the presence of substantial amounts of N-, S-, and O-containing heteroatomic compounds. The thorough evaluation of different column combinations for two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), i.e., non-polar × polar and polar × non-polar, revealed that the second combination had the best performance, as indicated by the bi-dimensional resolution of the selected key compounds. By coupling the GC × GC to multiple detectors, such as the flame ionization detector (FID), a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD), a nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (NCD), and a mass spectrometer (MS), the identification and quantification were possible of hydrocarbon, oxygen-, sulfur-, and nitrogen-containing compounds in both naphtha (C5–C11) and diesel fractions (C7–C23) originating from plastic-waste pyrolysis oils. Group-type quantification showed that large amounts of α-olefins (36.39 wt%, 35.08 wt%), iso-olefins (8.77 wt%, 9.06 wt%), and diolefins (4.21 wt%, 4.20 wt%) were present. Furthermore, oxygen-containing compounds (alcohols, ketones, and ethers) could be distinguished from abundant hydrocarbon matrix, by employing Stabilwax as the first column and Rxi-5ms as the second column. Ppm levels of sulfides, thiophenes, and pyridines could also be quantified by the use of selective SCD and NCD detectors.

Liquid fuel from waste tires: novel refining, advanced characterization and utilization in engines with ethyl levulinate as an additive

Pyrolysis is a promising thermochemical strategy to convert scrap tires into diesel-like fuels. Crude tire pyrolysis oil (CTPO) was produced in a 10 ton rotating autoclave reactor by thermal depolymerization of the tire polymers. In this work, the prior-reported straightforward and inexpensive strategy of upgrading CTPO using a combination of silica gel (as adsorbent) and petroleum ether (as the solvent) has been scaled up with minimal loss in mass of oil and improved physicochemical characteristics (e.g., lowered acid value, low sulfur content). The upgraded TPO (StTPO) was characterized extensively to better understand their chemical compositions, physicochemical properties, and combustion characteristics. StTPO was mixed with diesel in different volumetric proportions and the blends were studied for performance and emission characteristics in a single-cylinder engine. The use of biomass-derived ethyl levulinate (EL) as a fuel oxygenate improved the cold-flow properties of StTPO-diesel blends as well as lowered the exhaust emissions (e.g., lower NO x ). A fuel blend consisting of 50% diesel, 40% StTPO, and 10% EL demonstrated the best fuel properties in the single-cylinder diesel engine.

Characterization and Comparison of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-oils from Pinewood, Rapeseed Cake, and Wheat Straw Using 13C NMR and Comprehensive GC × GC

Fast pyrolysis bio-oils are feasible energy carriers and a potential source of chemicals. Detailed characterization of bio-oils is essential to further develop its potential use. In this study, quantitative ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) was used to characterize fast pyrolysis bio-oils originated from pinewood, wheat straw, and rapeseed cake. The combination of both techniques provided new information on the chemical composition of bio-oils for further upgrading. ¹³C NMR analysis indicated that pinewood-based bio-oil contained mostly methoxy/hydroxyl (≈30%) and carbohydrate (≈27%) carbons; wheat straw bio-oil showed to have high amount of alkyl (≈35%) and aromatic (≈30%) carbons, while rapeseed cake-based bio-oil had great portions of alkyl carbons (≈82%). More than 200 compounds were identified and quantified using GC × GC coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID) and a time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). Nonaromatics were the most abundant and comprised about 50% of the total mass of compounds identified and quantified via GC × GC. In addition, this analytical approach allowed the quantification of high value-added phenolic compounds, as well as of low molecular weight carboxylic acids and aldehydes, which exacerbate the unstable and corrosive character of the bio-oil.

On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes

The shift to heavy crude oils and the use of alternative fossil resources such as shale oil are a challenge for the petrochemical industry. The composition of heavy crude oils and shale oils varies substantially depending on the origin of the mixture. In particular they contain an increased amount of nitrogen containing compounds compared to the conventionally used sweet crude oils. As nitrogen compounds have an influence on the operation of thermal processes occurring in coker units and steam crackers, and as some species are considered as environmentally hazardous, a detailed analysis of the reactions involving nitrogen containing compounds under pyrolysis conditions provides valuable information. Therefore a novel method has been developed and validated with a feedstock containing a high nitrogen content, i.e., a shale oil. First, the feed was characterized offline by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled with a nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (NCD). In a second step the on-line analysis method was developed and tested on a steam cracking pilot plant by feeding pyridine dissolved in heptane. The former being a representative compound for one of the most abundant classes of compounds present in shale oil. The composition of the reactor effluent was determined via an in-house developed automated sampling system followed by immediate injection of the sample on a GC × GC coupled with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS), flame ionization detector (FID) and NCD. A novel method for quantitative analysis of nitrogen containing compounds using NCD and 2-chloropyridine as an internal standard has been developed and demonstrated.