A description is given of the routine mass spectrometric methods developed for the analysis of petroleum oils with emphasis on the determination of molecular weight distribution and hydrocarbon-type composition. In the development of these methods, the use of total ion intensity has proved useful for standardizing spectra to a constant charge volume and instrumental sensitivity. Since it is not possible to establish the absolute accuracy of the mass spectrometric methods, examples of internal consistency are given. Mass spectral evidence obtained in the development of the various methods has led to a simplified picture of the structural composition of petroleum oils.
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