Study of the Aggregation of Metal Complexes with Asphaltenes Using Gel Permeation Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Gel Permeation Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GPC ICP HR MS) was used for the understanding of the evolution of two crude oil cut samples after their dilution. We firstly studied different method parameters in order to compare two GPC procedures already published (flow rate, column set, presence or not of the THF stabilizer). Thus, the principal parameters affecting the molecular size distribution and its evolution were demonstrated. The column set and flow rate can affect drastically the molecular size distribution of the sample. Moreover an evolution of the size distribution of the complexes of vanadium, nickel and sulfur into higher molecular weight compounds was observed over time.The study led to the recommendation of the sample preparation to the same day of the analysis in order to obtain reproducible data.

Fractionation and Characterization of Petroleum Asphaltene: Focus on Metalopetroleomics

“…Reinjection experiments of the fractions revealed the association and dissociation behaviors of the asphaltene molecules [47]. The effect of different method parameters on the molecular size distribution of asphaltenes was also determined with GPC-ICP-MS. Aggregation asphaltenes were observed mainly during the first month; therefore, it is recommended that samples be prepared freshly for reproducible data [110].…”

Analytical Strategies Involved in the Detailed Componential Characterization of Biooil Produced from Lignocellulosic Biomass

“…However, only a portion of the sample is identified. The other components with higher molecular weight (MW) can be determined, that is, by GPC for species with MW up to 1000–2000 Da without any further information regarding their structure [ 25 , 60 ], unless coupled with other techniques [ 70 ]. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) is a powerful technique for the determination of volatile fractions in different types of biooils providing detailed information on the molecular composition.…”

“…Therefore, more powerful techniques aiming at exact identification of organic species in complex samples with outstanding resolution are needed. HRMSs, such as Orbitrap MS, Q-TOFMS, and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), were reported to have advantage on the identification of complex mixtures due to the superior mass resolution [ 17 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 44 , 47 , 70 , 74 , 76 , 83 , 87 , 88 ].…”

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection for the characterization of sulfur, vanadium and nickel compounds in petroleum products

“…However, other compounds which represent up to 80 % of the metal complex, are much more abundant than metalloporphyrins while poorly described yet [3,6], and could be found as porphyrins trapped in nanoaggregates [10,11]. Recently, several reviews have dealt with metal speciation in crude oil and heavy petroleum fraction [2,3,12].…”

“…Recently, several reviews have dealt with metal speciation in crude oil and heavy petroleum fraction [2,3,12]. One of the main reported analytical approaches is size exclusion chromatography coupled to ICP-HRMS (SEC-ICP-HRMS) [10,[13][14][15][16][17]. The compounds being separated according to their hydrodynamic volumes, the catalyst pore size can be adapted according to the size of metal complexes, which can be useful for hydrodemetallation and hydrodesulfurization processes [3].…”