Solid-Phase Extraction Fractionation To Extend the Characterization of Naphthenic Acids in Crude Oil by Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Naphthenic (NAP) acids have been previously characterized by negative electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), both directly and from acid extracts. Here, we show that collective characterization of NAP acids with negative-ion ESI, both with and without prior extraction, results in a loss of signal from high mass acids because of ion suppression by low mass acids. We have developed an extraction to simultaneously isolate and fractionate NAP acids into distinct molecular weight ranges, thereby grouping acids into fractions with similar ionization efficiency. A NAP acid fraction was isolated (all acids isolated collectively in one fraction) and compared to NAP acid isolation by molecular weight. Characterization of acid molecular weight fractions extended the observed upper mass limit from ∼850 Da for the collectively isolated acids to ∼1450 Da for the acids isolated by molecular weight range, thereby approximately doubling the observed mass rang...