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Title: Combined liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for heavy hydrocarbon characterization

Conference · · American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints; (United States)
OSTI ID:7152202
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  1. Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, NJ (United States)

Molecular level characterization of immensely complex fossil fuel mixtures remains a challenge to analytical chemists. The characterization is important in order to understand the nature of the molecules in hydrocarbon process streams and the chemistry occurring in the processes. To analyze these complex mixtures, coupling of chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) becomes highly desirable. Chromatography separates components according to their boiling points or polarity, and MS provides valuable information on the molecular weight and structure of the molecules. The development of combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) greatly facilitated the analysis of volatile fuel streams and products. LC/MS adds another dimension, as this approach allows the authors to characterize molecular structures as a function of polarity that in many cases is equivalent to processibility. In addition, LC/MS is capable of handling high boiling and polar compounds that cannot by analyzed by GC/MS. The coupling of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and MS not only extends the MS capabilities in mixture analysis to higher boiling and more polar fractions but also allows the authors to address many issues that are important in hydrocarbon characterization at a molecular level. These issues deal with (1) differentiation between aromatic and naphthenoaromatics, (2) distinction between aromatic hydrocarbons and thiophenes, (3) analysis of basic and neutral polars, and (4) correlation of molecular polarity with elution characteristics in different solvent streams. Various LC/MS experiments, both on-line and off-line have been subjected to various MS analyses including field ionization and fast-atom bombardment.

OSTI ID:
7152202
Report Number(s):
CONF-900802-; CODEN: ACPCA
Journal Information:
American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints; (United States), Vol. 35:4; Conference: 200. American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting, Washington, DC (United States), 26-31 Aug 1990; ISSN 0569-3799
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English