Date of Award
January 2015
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Hilkka I Kenttämaa
Committee Member 1
Scott A McLuckey
Committee Member 2
Mahdi Abu-Omar
Committee Member 3
Chengde Mao
Abstract
Mass spectrometry has found a wide variety of applications in many fields of study, such as fundamental chemistry, biological science, food and fuels, advanced materials, etc. Due to its high sensitivity, selectivity and speed, mass spectrometry provides an invaluable tool for direct mixture analysis. When coupled with separation methods, such as gas chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography, analysis of minor components in complex mixtures is possible. In addition to the molecular weight information, mass spectrometers can provide structural information for the ionized analyte molecules. However, mass spectrometric analysis of complex mixtures is not without challenges, such as suitable evaporation/ionization methods are not readily available for different types of samples. For example, because of such limitations, little is known about the molecular weight or structural information of asphaltenes, which are the heaviest components of crude oil and one of the most complex mixtures in nature. Characterization of asphaltenes at the molecular level can alleviate some of the problems they cause to petroleum industry and facilitate the discovery of beneficial uses for asphaltenes.
Recommended Citation
Tang, Weijuan, "MASS SPECTROMETRIC STUDIES ON PETROLEUM ASPHALTENES AND ORGANOSULFUR COMPOUNDS, ON FUNCTIONAL-GROUP SELECTIVE ION-MOLECULE REACTIONS AND ON GAS-PHASE REACTIVITY OF META-BENZYNES TOWARD AMINO ACIDS" (2015). Open Access Dissertations. 1199.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1199