The nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds found in the petrochemical industry are varied and extend beyond classes such as the anilines, pyrroles and pyridines. Quantification of these nitrogen-containing compounds that may occur in complex mixtures has practical application for quality assurance, process development and the evaluation of conversion processes. Selective detection of nitrogen-containing species in complex mixtures is possible by making use of gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen phosphorous detector (GC-NPD), which is also called a thermionic detector. Despite the linearity of the NPD response to individual nitrogen-containing compounds, the response factor is different for different compounds and even isomers of the same species. Quantitative analysis using an NPD requires species-specific calibration. The reason for the sensitivity of the NPD to structure is related to the ease of forming the cyano-radical that is ionized to the cyanide anion, which is detected. The operation of the NPD was related to the processes of pyrolysis and subsequent ionization. It was possible to offer plausible explanations for differences in response factors for isomers based on pyrolysis chemistry. Due to this relationship, the NPD response can in the same way be used to provide information of practical relevance beyond its analytical value and a few possible applications were outlined.

在石油化学工业中发现的含氮芳族化合物种类繁多，并且超出了诸如苯胺，吡咯和吡啶的类别。这些可能在复杂混合物中出现的含氮化合物的定量分析在质量保证，工艺开发和转化工艺评估方面具有实际应用价值。通过使用气相色谱结合氮磷检测器（GC-NPD）（也称为热电子检测器），可以选择性检测复杂混合物中的含氮物质。尽管NPD对单个含氮化合物的响应呈线性关系，但对于不同的化合物甚至同一物种的异构体，其响应因子是不同的。使用NPD进行定量分析需要特定物种的校准。NPD对结构敏感的原因与容易形成被离子化为氰化物阴离子的氰基自由基形成有关。NPD的操作与热解和随后的电离过程有关。可以根据热解化学为异构体的响应因子差异提供合理的解释。由于这种关系，NPD响应可以以相同的方式用于提供超出其分析值的实际相关信息，并概述了一些可能的应用。可以根据热解化学为异构体的响应因子差异提供合理的解释。由于这种关系，NPD响应可以以相同的方式用于提供超出其分析值的实际相关信息，并概述了一些可能的应用。可以根据热解化学为异构体的响应因子差异提供合理的解释。由于这种关系，NPD响应可以以相同的方式用于提供超出其分析值的实际相关信息，并概述了一些可能的应用。