SELECTIVE QUANTITATION OF ORGANIC SULFUR WITH THE PRECURSOR SCAN METHOD OF NEUTRALIZATION-REIONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Quantitation of organosulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon matrix was stu died by the precursor scan method of neutralization-reionization mass spectrometry. The CHS+ ion was used as a marker selectively to detect and quantify sulfur compounds dissolved in a synthetic hydrocarbon mix ture. Precursor ion abundances showed a linear dependence on the organ osulfur content in the 1-100% concentration range. Detection limits of 0.5% were achieved, which were limited by the instrument sensitivity. Isobaric interferences of C-13 isotopomers from hydrocarbons were neg ligible. Small interferences from oxygen-and nitrogen-containing addit ives are discussed Several neutralization gases were examined to minim ize interferences and to maximize the ion abundances. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.