Molecular characterization of non-acidic compounds in oil residues by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry analysis, 2011-01-06 to 2018-10-30

In addition to acidic compounds characterization, a qualitative map of non-acidic compounds in salt marsh sediments (e.g., nonpolar aromatics and basic compounds) was generated. Weathered oil extracts from Louisiana Salt Marshes were analyzed by positive electrospray ionization (ESI) with Lithium chloride (LiCl) to aid in protonation and Li+ adduct formation to target oxidation products. Atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) will also be coupled to Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) for sample analysis to target polar and nonpolar species simultaneously and thus capture the molecular compositional changes of these compounds as a function of long-term environmental exposure.