SARA Analyzer
High-Performance HPLC Solution for the Determination of Saturate, Aromatic, Resin, and Asphaltene Fractions
Overview
The JAS SARA Analyzer is an advanced High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system designed for the accurate and efficient determination of Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes (SARA) in crude oils, bitumen, and heavy petroleum fractions.
Traditional SARA analysis methods require 3–5 days and extensive manual effort. In contrast, the JAS SARA-HPLC Analyzerperforms a fully automated, precise, and reproducible analysis within approximately 4 hours, including reconditioning — significantly reducing time, solvent use, and operator workload.
This solution, developed on a JAS Customized Agilent HPLC platform, provides a fast, highly efficient, and selective quantitation workflow, making it ideal for refineries, research labs, and quality control environments dealing with heavy crude and residue characterization.
Methodology
SARA fractionation separates crude oil components based on their solubility in polar and non-polar solvents.
- The sample is diluted in toluene and injected directly — no sample preparation required.
- n-Pentane is used as the first mobile phase to elute Saturates.
- After column drying with Ethane, Toluene serves as the second mobile phase to dissolve and elute Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes.
- The resulting chromatogram provides three distinct peaks corresponding to total Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes.
This fully automated system provides reproducible and quantitative results that correlate precisely with gravimetric SARA analyses, while being faster, cleaner, and more cost-efficient.
Key Features
- No sample preparation required – only dilution in toluene
- Fully automated operation – pumps and valves controlled by Agilent OpenLab CDS
- Automatic reset and ready-to-run after each cycle
- Total analysis time: ~245 minutes (including reconditioning)
- Solvent consumption: less than 300 mL per run
- High repeatability:
- Aromatics – 1.2% RSD
- Resins – 1.8% RSD
- Asphaltenes – 2.2% RSD
- Commercial columns used, with optional JAS PTFE column available
- Compact and reliable system design optimized for laboratory environments
Automation and Software Control
The JAS SARA Analyzer is fully automated and controlled through Agilent OpenLab CDS Software, allowing:
- Time-based control of pump and valve operations
- Optimized solvent usage and efficient switching sequences
- Automatic chromatogram acquisition and peak integration
- Direct calculation of SARA components via UV signal detection
Each analysis sequence automatically reconditions the system for the next run — enabling continuous operation with minimal human intervention.
System Performance
Repeatability Test:
SARA analysis repeated four times confirmed exceptional reproducibility with low RSD values:
- Aromatics: 1.2%
- Resins: 1.8%
- Asphaltenes: 2.2%
This demonstrates superior performance compared to manual methods, which typically show 20–30% deviation.
The linearity of calibration curves for asphaltenes (R² > 0.9996) validates the system’s quantitative accuracy.
Performance Benefits
- Analysis time reduced from 5 days to 4 hours
- High reproducibility (~2% RSD) for all fractions
- Automated solvent control with efficient use of Toluene and Pentane
- Simplified workflow with no manual separation steps
- Lower operational costs and solvent waste
- Enhanced precision with modern HPLC automation
System Configuration
- Platform: JAS Customized Agilent HPLC System
- Control Software: Agilent OpenLab CDS
- Pumps: Dual HPLC solvent delivery
- Columns: Commercial or JAS PTFE Columns
- Solvents: n-Pentane, Toluene, Ethane
- Detection: UV/VWD at 254 nm
- Automation: Pump/valve sequence fully integrated in OpenLab
Conclusion
The JAS SARA-HPLC Analyzer represents a major advancement in petroleum fraction analysis — combining automation, accuracy, and repeatability into a single, cost-effective system.
Compared to conventional methods, it:
- Eliminates manual preparation, requiring only sample dilution
- Reduces analysis time from several days to just a few hours
- Improves reproducibility to ~2% RSD across all analytes
- Minimizes solvent use and operator handling
This system has been validated and demonstrated in laboratory environments with results published in the American Chemical Society (ACS Omega, 2022), confirming its reliability and performance.
Why Choose the JAS SARA Analyzer
- Fast, automated, and reproducible SARA fractionation
- No sample preparation required
- Proven alignment with ASTM and IP methodologies
- Compatible with crude oils, residues, and bitumen
- Verified reproducibility across multiple runs and batches
- Based on JAS Customized Agilent HPLC Technology
- Supported by JAS Global Application and Technical Expertise
Applications
- Crude oil and bitumen characterization
- Feedstock evaluation and quality control
- Residue analysis for refinery operations
- Research and development in heavy crude upgrading
- Asphaltene quantification for fouling and stability studies
JAS SARA Analyzer —
Revolutionizing crude oil and bitumen fractionation with fast, automated, and reliable SARA analysis.
