Characterization of organosulfur compounds in asphalt cement samples by ESI(+)FT-ICR MS and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Abstract

Herein, it is presented a methodology for the characterization of organosulfur compounds in asphalt cement (AC) samples employing solid-phase extraction (SPE) associated with methylation reactions and positive-ion mode electrospray Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI(+)FT-ICR MS) and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy. Three AC samples were submitted to an SPE separation, and the fractions obtained the original AC samples, and their maltenes were methylated and analyzed using the ESI(+)FT-ICR MS. The ESI(+)FT-ICR MS ionized the sulfur fractions much better than the original samples, detecting organosulfur compounds with a broader average molecular mass distribution (Mw). Several types of sulfur compounds were detected, such as sulfides, disulfides, thiophenes, and dibenzothiophenes. Besides, the ESI(+)FT-ICR data were compared with the 13C NMR (from model molecules analyses) and ESI(+)-Orbitrap MS. The organosulfur chemical profile was correlated to the physical properties of AC samples. It was verified that the samples with higher aromatic-character were less susceptible to aging test, while the one with more saturated-character presented more significant variation in their physical properties after the aging test.