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.