Petroleum crude oil characterization by IMS-MS and FTICR MS

Anal Chem. 2009 Dec 15;81(24):9941-7. doi: 10.1021/ac901594f.

Abstract

Here, complementary ion mobility/mass spectrometry (IM/MS) and ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) MS analyses of light, medium, and heavy petroleum crude oils yielded distributions of the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbons, as well as multiple conformational classes. The IM/MS technique provides unique fingerprints for fast identification of signature conformational/compositional patterns, whereas FTICR MS analysis provides comprehensive heteroatom class distributions. IM/MS and FTICR MS results reveal an increase in compositional complexity in proceeding from light to medium to heavy crude oils. Inspection of the mobility results shows a high structural diversity for the C(n)H(h)XY (XY = N(1), S(1), N(1), O(1), NS, SO(1-2), NO(1-2), etc.) series, as well as a shift from planar to more compact three-dimensional structures with increasing mass.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Fourier Analysis
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Petroleum / analysis*

Substances

  • Petroleum