Molecular Characterization of Fossil and Alternative Fuels Using Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry: Recent Advances and Perspectives

Abstract

Molecular composition analysis of petroleum and alternative fuels has been considered as one of the greatest challenges in analytical chemistry. The rapid development of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) has provided an opportunity to solve this problem. High mass resolution power and mass accuracy enable the separation of isobaric compounds in a complex mixture and assignment of their molecular composition. The combination of electrospray ionization (ESI) with FT-ICR MS achieves direct analysis of polar compounds in petroleum even if they are in trace amounts in the complex matrix. FT-ICR MS has made a great contribution to the chemical understanding of petroleum and alternative fuels; the relevant application is sometimes called “petroleomic analysis”. Hundreds of journal articles have been published over the past two decades using FT-ICR MS instruments to study the molecular composition of petroleum and alternative fuels, in which most of them used ESI as the ionization source. This review will present an overview of the studies regarding the petroleomic characterization of fossil and alternative fuels by FT-ICR MS coupled with ESI and a critical review of their main findings relevant to the chemical composition. Special features of this review are (1) covering the entire historical period; (2) focusing on ESI ionization; (3) a systematic review of the composition of almost all the components and compound classes, including but not limited to petroleum, coal-derived liquids, biofuels, and their distillates; asphaltenes, heavy residues, interfacial active substances; hydrocarbons and heteroatoms; and polar and nonpolar compounds. In addition, the challenges and further research directions will be proposed. This review focuses on the advances enabled by ultrahigh resolving power FT-ICR MS in a tribute to Professor Alan G. Marshall.

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“…Our environment is now getting polluted due to the emission of greenhouse gases from different sources like industries and automobiles engines. , The heavy vehicles that consume fossil fuels are considered to be one of the major contributors to the emission of poisonous gases like CO, CO 2 , SO 2 , and NO. , Because of this, the environmental pollution laws have been imposed to restrict such damage to our environment. In this regard, alternative energy sources like H 2 gas, biogas, and biofuels are greener fuels that can protect our environment from climate change. − Recent progress in the field of energy sectors considers alcohols such as methanol (CH 3 OH) and ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) as alternative sources of energy. − Both CH 3 OH and C 2 H 5 OH are beneficial because of their good electrochemical activity, their availability, and their biodegradability. , Most importantly, both CH 3 OH and C 2 H 5 OH do not need much special care for transportation as it is needed for H 2 gas. , Apart from this specific characteristic, the energy density of CH 3 OH and C 2 H 5 OH are also compatible with H 2 fuel, for which it can take the market value. Due to such beneficial factors, researchers across the world are searching for new catalysts that can boost the electrochemical oxidation of CH 3 OH and C 2 H 5 OH for use as a material for liquid fuel cells. , …”

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“…The author highlighted the unparalleled high mass resolution power of MS and the need to work with various techniques, including separations, different ionization methods, ion dissociation/multidimensional MS, and hyphened separation techniques. Shi and co-workers from China University of Petroleum (Beijing) 41 provided a historical (vertical) perspective of the development of MS techniques, with a special focus on electrospray ionization (ESI) for the detection of polar compounds in petroleum.…”