Boiling Point Profiles in Minutes – Meet AC SIMDIS

August 20, 2025

Boiling point distribution tells the real story of a petroleum product. It determines how fuel behaves in an engine, how crude oil will fractionate in a refinery, and whether a shipment meets strict trade and regulatory specifications. For decades, laboratories relied on physical distillation to generate these curves. But when precision, speed, and reproducibility are critical, simulated distillation using gas chromatography has become the method of choice.

Imagine running a full boiling point analysis of a crude oil sample – not over hours, but in a fraction of the time, with sharper resolution and greater reproducibility than a traditional distillation tower could ever deliver.

AC SIMDIS, developed by PAC, is a turnkey GC platform purpose-built for this task. It covers the full boiling range – from light naphtha to heavy C120 fractions – in strict compliance with ASTM, IP, ISO, DIN, and CEN standards. Whether you need ASTM D2887 for middle distillates, D6352 for heavy ends, or D7169 for extended ranges, AC SIMDIS delivers results that are both traceable and globally accepted.

Behind the performance is a combination of robust hardware and intelligent software. The Temperature Programmable Inlet ensures clean, stable, and repeatable sample introduction, while the Automated Liquid Sampler delivers precise, reproducible injections with minimal carryover. Together, they form a stable platform capable of handling complex petroleum streams with ease.

The heart of the system, SIMDIS XLNC™ software, turns chromatograms into actionable data. Analysts can visualize results, overlay curves for comparison, calculate ASTM-specific parameters, and generate customized reports. Built-in quality control, audit trails, and seamless LIMS integration keep operations efficient and compliant with ISO 17025 and other quality frameworks.

AC SIMDIS is also more than just a boiling point analyzer. With additional configurations, it can estimate flash points, calculate Volume Average Boiling Point (VABP) and Bureau of Mines Correlation Index (BMCI), determine molar mass, and even simultaneous determination sulfur- or nitrogen. This makes it an invaluable tool for crude oil assay, refinery optimization, and product certification.

Beyond the Lab: The Operational Advantage

In the demanding world of petroleum and chemical analysis, a fast and accurate result isn't just a technical achievement; it's an operational necessity. The speed of the AC SIMDIS system allows labs to provide data to plant operators in a matter of minutes, enabling timely adjustments to the refining process. This reduces the time a product spends in a holding tank and helps maximize throughput.

Equally important is the system's precision and reproducibility. By minimizing variability in your boiling point data, you reduce the risk of product giveaway – selling a higher-value product at a lower-value price – and ensure every batch confidently meets its regulatory and trade specifications. Ultimately, this leads to more efficient operations and better profitability.

From refinery labs monitoring daily production, to independent testing facilities certifying fuels for trade, AC SIMDIS offers a powerful combination of speed, precision, and regulatory confidence. It can also be a vital tool for beyond the traditional scope of fuels and crude testing. Understanding your hydrocarbons is paramount and the AC SIMDIS can provide critical data for research and development, renewable fuel initiatives, and a wide range of other petrochemical or petroleum adjacent applications.

Download the SIMDIS Brochure here