MALDI-TOF-MS for the Characterization of Polymerized Anthracene Pitches

摘要

MALDI-TOF-MS is being investigated for the analysis of polymerized anthracene pitches, which were synthesized as a model for natural petroleum pitches and other heavy petroleum fractions. The MWD obtained by MALDI clearly shows the oligomeric nature of the pitch; such results are unattainable with traditional analytical characterization methods for pitches, such as GPC. In the recent literature, a common mistake that is frequently observed is the use of excessive laser power when using MALDI, resulting in erroneous MWD data. Finally, target-cell spotting techniques that do not use solvents show the most potential for obtaining accurate and repeatable MWDs for pitches and other heavy fossil fuels.