Application of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the characterization of organic aerosol: Searching for naphthenic acids

摘要: Abstract Naphthenic acids (NAs) are naturally occurring constituents of hydrocarbon deposits (petroleum, oil sands bitumen, and crude oils), present in any facilities that extract, process or use bitumen for manufacturing. In the Athabasca region (AOSR) Alberta, Canada, this diverse group saturated acyclic, monocyclic, polycyclic carboxylic is tailing ponds. Little known about occurrence residual derived organic material, including NAs, atmospheric particulate matter (PM). This work describes optimization an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/QTOF-MS) method to characterize identify classical NAs PM. Under optimum conditions, analysis Sigma-Aldrich technical NA STD Mix showed absence fatty acids, while branched cyclic isomers with carbon number ranged between 10 30, Z families 0 −12 were detected. Higher molecular weight representing compounds ranging 30 40 identified analyzed PM samples collected AOSR. contrast, isomeric acyclic not detected background (PM-R) far from Except (  = 0), other homologues also detectable at very low concentration analysed PM-R samples. Preliminary examination profiles composition close proximity surface mining operations predominantly “refractory” high differing closer upgraders tailings It suspected dust released mine faces dry AOSR sources atmosphere. Further should be examined confirm findings. preliminary study presents, our knowledge, first direct identification