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Fast-atom bombardment and chemical ionization/fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry of lubricants

Journal Article · · Anal. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00125a018· OSTI ID:5280423

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) is used for the direct, rapid, and semiquantitative characterization of neat synthetic base oils and their additives. Both positive and negative ion spectra are investigated, and while the negative ion spectra give less structural information, they are more useful for profiling complex mixtures because of their simplicity. Lubricant additives, present at the low percent to parts-per-thousand levels, can be identified by their molecular ions using FABMS on the neat lubricant. The related technique, chemical ionization/fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, is shown to enhance significantly the abundances of homologous tetraester molecular ions in a synthetic base oil. This resulting molecular ion enhancement permits tandem mass spectrometric methods to be used to determine the isomer composition of each homologue. Several applications of FABMS on lubricants are discussed including the use of computer reference FABMS spectra for mixture analysis and the potential use of FABMS in tribochemistry.

Research Organization:
Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
5280423
Journal Information:
Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 58:12; ISSN ANCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English