This method is for determining aromatic, olefinic and saturated hydrocarbons by column chromatography in petroleum distillates that boil below 250 degrees C. Depentanization of the sample by UOP 79 is required if it contains more than 2 LV-% C₄ or 15 LV-% C₅ hydrocarbons. Kerosine boiling range samples should be analyzed by UOP Method 501 or ASTM D 1319. The lower detection limit for a hydrocarbon type is 0.4 LV-%. The indicated aromatic hydrocarbons can include some diolefins, aromatic olefins, compounds containing sulfur and nitrogen or higher boiling oxygenated compounds. Oxygenated gasoline blending components such as methanol, ethanol or methyl-tert-butyl ether do not interfere with the determination of hydrocarbon types. The oxygenated components are not detected, since they elute with the alcohol desorbent. When samples containing oxygenated blending components are analyzed, the hydrocarbon type results can be reported on an oxygenate-free basis or, the oxygenated blending components can be determined by ASTM Method D 4815 and the results corrected to a total sample basis.