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

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 C(24)H(50) to C(50)H(102). These alkanes were tested individually and in artificial mixtures of up to seven components. Only one product ion, [R + CpCo - 2H(2)].+, 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.