DVLS DHA Analyzer — Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis for Light Petroleum Streams
ASTM D5134 · D6729 · D6730 · D6733 · D7900 compliant. Automated GC-based detailed hydrocarbon analysis for naphtha, reformate, gasoline, and stabilised crude oil. Built on the Agilent GC platform with PetroReporter software. Every analyzer factory-tested before shipment.
Refinery Process Optimisation Depends on Knowing Exactly What Is in Your Light Petroleum Stream
Naphtha, reformate, gasoline, and stabilised crude oil are not simple single-component streams — they are complex mixtures of hundreds of individual hydrocarbon compounds, each with its own boiling point, reactivity, and contribution to fuel properties. Blending, reforming, catalytic cracking, and alkylation operations all depend on knowing the composition of these streams at the individual compound level. Group-type analysis gives you an overview. Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis gives you the complete picture.
DHA by gas chromatography with Flame Ionisation Detection is the established method for resolving and identifying the individual hydrocarbon components in light petroleum streams — from C1 through C12 and beyond, down to concentrations as low as 0.01% mass. The DVLS DHA Analyzer automates the entire process: injection, separation on a 50 or 100 metre analytical column, peak detection, and data processing. The result is a complete compound-by-compound composition profile, PIONA group-type breakdown, oxygenate quantification, and calculated fuel properties — all generated automatically by the PetroReporter software without manual data handling.
Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions has been building DHA analyzers for leading refineries worldwide since 2000. Every DVLS DHA Analyzer is configured on the Agilent GC platform — the most widely used and supported GC in the petroleum industry — and tested against a reference sample in the DVLS factory before shipment. The PetroReporter software is the same platform used at refineries globally for DHA, SimDist, FAME, and gas calculation reporting — one universal tool that grows with your lab’s application scope.
What the DVLS DHA Analyzer Delivers in Your Lab
Built on the Agilent GC Platform
Every DVLS DHA Analyzer is configured on the Agilent Gas Chromatograph — the industry benchmark for petroleum GC analysis. Dedicated DHA columns (50 or 100 metre), optimised injection ports, and a high-scanning-rate FID are selected and configured specifically for each DHA application. Cryogenic cooling (N2 or CO2) is included for accurate resolution of light components.
Five ASTM DHA Methods — One Analyzer
The DVLS DHA Analyzer supports all five standard ASTM DHA test methods: D5134, D6729, D6730, D6733, and D7900. Sample scopes cover olefin-free naphthas, reformates, alkylates, gasoline blends containing oxygenates, and stabilised crude oil. Boiling range characterisation from up to 174°C (D7900) to up to 250°C (D5134). Detection range 0.01% to 30% mass across all methods.
PetroReporter — Automated Data Processing & Reporting
Every DVLS DHA Analyzer includes PetroReporter — the proven petroleum chromatography software used by leading refineries worldwide. PetroReporter automates peak identification, sample type classification, and report generation. Standard DHA reports include: individual hydrocarbons and group types, oxygenate quantification, PIONA breakdown, TBP distribution, calculated Bromine Number, Gross and Net Heat of Combustion, Reid Vapor Pressure, RON, MON, and Specific Gravity. No manual data processing required.
Universal Software Platform
PetroReporter is not limited to DHA. The same software processes and reports data for SimDist, FAME, and Gas Calculation applications. A lab that adds a SimDist or gas analyzer does not need to buy or learn new software — PetroReporter handles all applications from a single platform, standalone or networked. User-friendly editors allow analysts to customise settings per sample type.
Crude Oil Characterisation — SimDist-DHA Merge
For crude oil boiling point characterisation, PetroReporter merges High Temperature SimDist data with DHA results as standardised in ASTM D7900. The software sets the SimDist-DHA merge point automatically, improving the front-end resolution of the boiling point curve and delivering a more accurate complete crude assay than either method alone.
Application Guarantee — Factory Acceptance Tested
Every DVLS DHA Analyzer is tested in the Da Vinci laboratory against in-house testing procedures using a reference sample before shipment. The system performance and analyzer specification are verified before the instrument leaves the factory. A formal Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) can be scheduled on request — giving procurement teams and lab managers documented proof of performance before installation.
Supported Test Standards
Standard Test Method for Detailed Analysis of Petroleum Naphthas through n-Nonane by Capillary Gas Chromatography
Covers olefin-free (<2% liquid volume) liquid hydrocarbon mixtures including virgin naphtha, reformates, and alkylates. Detection range 0.01–30% mass. Boiling range characterisation up to 250°C. The most comprehensive ASTM DHA method for refinery naphtha streams.
Standard Test Method for Determination of Individual Components in Spark Ignition Engine Fuels by 100-Metre Capillary High Resolution Gas Chromatography
Covers spark-ignition engine fuel blends containing oxygenates. Detection range 0.01–30% mass. Boiling range up to 225°C. Used for gasoline specification compliance and oxygenate content verification.
Standard Test Method for Determination of Individual Components in Spark Ignition Engine Fuels by 100+Metre Capillary High Resolution Gas Chromatography
Covers naphtha, reformates, alkylates, and spark-ignition engine fuel blends containing oxygenates. Detection range 0.01–30% mass. Boiling range up to 225°C.
Standard Test Method for Determination of Light Hydrocarbons in Stabilized Crude Oils by Gas Chromatography
Covers naphtha, reformates, alkylates, and stabilised crude oil. Detection range 0.01–30% mass. Boiling range up to 174°C. The method standardises the SimDist-DHA data merge point for crude oil boiling point characterisation — automated in PetroReporter.
ALSO COMELATED / SUPPORTED
Specifications — AD Systems DT100DL
Sub-line: PetroReporter automates data processing and report generation across all petroleum GC applications from one universal software tool — used by leading refineries worldwide.
Bromine Number, Gross/Net Heat of Combustion, RVP, RON, MON, Specific Gravity
Who Uses the DVLS DHA Analyzer
Petroleum Refinery Process Labs
The primary application. DHA data drives refinery optimisation across the most valuable process units — catalytic reforming, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), isomerisation, alkylation, and naphtha hydrotreating. Reformate and FCC naphtha DHA results determine blend ratios, octane component yields, and the feed quality going into downstream units. Without component-level DHA data, these decisions are based on estimates.
Gasoline Blending & Product Specification Labs
Gasoline product release requires specification compliance for benzene content, oxygenates, aromatics, olefins, and calculated properties including RON, MON, and RVP — all derived from a single DHA run. The DVLS DHA Analyzer with PetroReporter generates every required specification parameter automatically from one chromatographic analysis, eliminating the need for multiple separate tests.
Crude Oil Assay Laboratories
Stabilised crude oil light-end characterisation per ASTM D7900, with automatic SimDist-DHA merge in PetroReporter for a complete crude oil boiling point curve. Used in crude evaluation, crude blend optimisation, and refinery planning to predict light-end yields and product slate before a crude is processed.
Independent Petroleum Testing Laboratories
Third-party DHA testing services for refiners, blenders, traders, and government agencies requiring ASTM D5134, D6729, D6730, D6733, or D7900 results with full chromatographic documentation. The DVLS DHA Analyzer with PetroReporter produces complete, LIMS-compatible reports that satisfy external client and accreditation body requirements.
Naphtha & Reformate Trading & Blending
Detailed hydrocarbon composition is the primary basis for naphtha and reformate valuation in the trading market — paraffin, isoparaffin, olefin, naphthene, and aromatic (PIONA) content directly determines the product's value for gasoline blending or petrochemical feedstock use. The DVLS DHA Analyzer delivers the authoritative PIONA data that trading and blending decisions require.
Environmental & Regulatory Compliance Labs
Benzene content in gasoline is regulated under US EPA and European EN 228 standards. Oxygenate concentrations (ethanol, MTBE, ETBE, TAME) in fuel blends are subject to regulatory limits in multiple jurisdictions. The DVLS DHA Analyzer quantifies both automatically in a single DHA run, generating the compliance documentation required for regulated fuel market access.
Why Get the DVLS DHA Analyzer Through KB Scientific
Three things that distinguish sourcing through KB Scientific versus purchasing through a general scientific equipment distributor without petroleum GC experience.
Authorized AD Systems Representative
Kevin Batt has managed the type of refinery and petroleum testing lab where DHA is part of the daily analytical program. He understands what ASTM D5134 and D6730 results are actually used for in a refinery context — process optimisation, blend decisions, and specification compliance — and can advise on the right DHA configuration for your sample types and throughput.
Guided by a Former Petroleum Lab Manager
KB Scientific is an authorized representative for Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions (DVLS) in the Midwest. Direct manufacturer relationship means accurate application guidance, correct method and column selection for your target ASTM methods, and a clear line of accountability for installation, commissioning, and post-delivery support.
Local Midwest Support
Based in Fishers, Indiana, serving 10 states. Kevin is reachable by phone or email for pre-sale method consultation, GC configuration questions, and post-delivery support. Not a national distributor queue with multi-day response windows.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What refinery lab managers, petroleum analysts, and GC lab procurement teams ask most often about the DVLS DHA Analyzer.
What is Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis and why is it important?
Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis (DHA) is gas chromatographic analysis that resolves and identifies the individual hydrocarbon components in a light petroleum stream — compound by compound — at concentrations as low as 0.01% mass. The result is a complete composition profile including PIONA (Paraffin, Isoparaffin, Olefin, Naphthene, Aromatic) group-type breakdown, oxygenate content, and calculated fuel properties. Refinery process engineers use DHA to optimise reforming, cracking, isomerisation, and blending operations. Without component-level DHA data, process and blending decisions rely on estimated compositions rather than measured data.
Which ASTM DHA method should I use for my sample type?
The choice of method depends on your sample and the level of detail required. ASTM D5134 covers the broadest boiling range (up to 250°C) for olefin-free naphthas, reformates, and alkylates — it is the most comprehensive method for refinery naphtha characterisation. D6729, D6730, and D6733 all cover gasoline blends with oxygenates up to 225°C but differ in column length and detection range — D6733 on a 50-metre column is faster, D6729 and D6730 on 100-metre columns offer higher resolution. D7900 covers stabilised crude oil light ends and is the method used when merging DHA with SimDist data for a complete crude boiling point curve. Kevin can advise on the right method for your specific application.
What does PetroReporter calculate from the DHA data?
PetroReporter automatically calculates and reports: individual hydrocarbon compounds (by name and concentration), PIONA group-type breakdown, oxygenate content and speciation, True Boiling Point (TBP) distribution, Bromine Number, Gross and Net Heat of Combustion, Reid Vapor Pressure, Research Octane Number (RON), Motor Octane Number (MON), and Specific Gravity. All calculated from a single DHA chromatographic run — no separate measurements required.
Can PetroReporter handle SimDist and gas applications as well as DHA?
Yes. PetroReporter is a universal platform that processes and reports data for DHA, Simulated Distillation (SimDist), FAME (biodiesel), and Gas Calculation applications — all from the same software installation. It is compatible with Agilent OpenLab, Thermo, DataApex, and Scion chromatography data systems, and can be operated standalone or in a networked LIMS-connected configuration. A lab that already uses PetroReporter for one application can extend it to cover additional applications without purchasing or learning new software.
What does the factory acceptance test cover?
Every DVLS DHA Analyzer is tested against in-house testing procedures using a reference sample before shipment — verifying system performance and confirming the analyzer meets its specification. A formal Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) with the customer present can be scheduled on request. The FAT provides documented proof of performance — specific compounds identified, concentrations measured, and results compared against acceptance criteria — before the instrument ships to the customer site.
What column options are available for the DHA Analyzer?
The DVLS DHA Analyzer is configured with either a 50-metre or 100-metre DHA analytical column depending on the target test method. The 100-metre column is required for ASTM D6729 and D6730 to achieve the resolution needed for complete gasoline blend composition. The 50-metre column is used for ASTM D6733 and delivers a faster analysis time with slightly reduced detection range (down to 0.01%, upper limit 15% mass). For ASTM D5134 and D7900, column selection is method-dependent and Kevin can advise based on your specific sample types.
Other Instruments You May Need
Ready to Bring ASTM-Compliant DHA
Into Your Lab?
Request a Quote or Technical Consultation
Kevin Batt — former petroleum lab manager, authorized DVLS representative — will review your target ASTM methods, sample types, and throughput requirements and recommend the right DHA configuration. Column selection, PetroReporter setup, and application scope are all covered in a single conversation. No obligation.