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Using electrospray‐assisted pyrolysis ionization/mass spectrometry for the rapid characterization of trace polar components in crude oil, amber, humic substances, and rubber samples
Author(s) -
Hsu HsiuJung,
Oung JungNan,
Kuo TsengLong,
Wu SuhHuey,
Shiea Jentaie
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.2845
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , pyrolysis , electrospray ionization , electron ionization , chemical ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrum , ionization , ion , chromatography , organic chemistry
Abstract We describe the use of electrospray‐assisted pyrolysis ionization/mass spectrometry (ESA‐Py/MS) to selectively ionize trace polar compounds that coexist with large amounts of nonpolar hydrocarbons in crude oil, amber, humic substances, and rubber samples. Samples of different origins are distinguished rapidly by their positive ion ESA‐Py mass spectra without prior separation or chemical pretreatment. During ESA‐Py analysis, the samples in their solid or liquid states were pyrolyzed at 590, 630 or 940°C using a commercial Curie‐point pyrolysis probe. The gaseous pyrolysates were transferred into a glass reaction cell. The polar compounds (M) in the pyrolysates were then ionized by electrospray ionization (ESI), yielding protonated molecules (MH + ). Although the major components of the pyrolysates are nonpolar hydrocarbons, their lack of functional groups that can receive a proton in the ESA‐Py source results in no hydrocarbon ion signals being produced; thus, the positive ions detected in ESA‐Py mass spectra all result from trace polar components in the pyrolysates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.