Analysis of Petroleum Aromatics by Laser-Induced Acoustic Desorption/Tunable Synchrotron Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Laser-induced acoustic desorption coupled with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (LIAD/SVUVPI-MS) is employed to analyze aromatics prepared under different conditions from Lungu atmospheric residue (LGAR), i.e., the primary aromatics separated directly from LGAR, and the secondary aromatics after hydrogenation of LGAR and its resins. The mass spectra of the primary aromatics present a bimodal normal distribution in the range of 200–900 Da, in which the relative intensity of the two peaks changes significantly with the SVUV photon energies (9.0, 11.0, and 14.0 eV), indicating that at least two categories of compounds with different ionization energies (IEs) are included, i.e., polycyclic aromatics (IEs < 10.0 eV) in the mass range of 400–900 Da, and aliphatic and alicyclic compounds (IEs close to 11.0 eV) in 200–400 Da. Also detected in the aromatics are metalloporphyrins. Furthermore, the mass spectra of the secondary aromatics separated from LGAR and its resins at different hydrogenation temperatures (390, 400, 410, and 420 °C) are also recorded. The results indicate that the hydrogenation process, especially at higher temperatures, results in removal of alkyl-side and bridge chains in the aromatics, and the secondary aromatics from LGAR resins contain more alkyl side and bridge chains and metal compounds than those from LGAR.