Analysis of Saturated Hydrocarbons by Using Chemical Ionization Combined with Laser-Induced Acoustic Desorption/Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Laser-induced acoustic desorption (LIAD), combined with chemical ionization by the cyclopentadienyl cobalt radical cation (CpCo•+), is demonstrated to facilitate the analysis of saturated hydrocarbons by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The LIAD/CpCo•+ method produces unique pseudomolecular ions for alkanes from C24H50 to C50H102. These alkanes were tested individually and in artificial mixtures of up to seven components. Only one product ion, [R + CpCo − 2H2]•+, was detected for each alkane (R). The product ions' relative abundances correspond to the relative molar concentration of each alkane in mixtures. These findings provide a solid groundwork for the future application of this method for hydrocarbon polymer analyses.