Evaluating the multiple benefits offered by ion mobility-mass spectrometry in oil and petroleum analysis

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry is starting to be considered as a useful tool in the deconvolution of complex oil and petroleum samples. While ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry is the incumbent technology in this field, ion mobility offers complementary information related to species size and shape, and also the ability to resolve structural isomers. In this work, a sample of the resins portion of the Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes (SARA) fractions of crude oil was analysed using an orthogonal acceleration quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (oa-QToF MS) that incorporates a travelling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) region. The ion mobility data were compared with previously acquired ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) data and various nitrogen containing families were identified. Ion mobility data were processed in the typical way for the oil and petroleum industry; and the use of high resolution exact mass coupled with mobility data to provide enhanced species resolution was examined. Double bond equivalence (DBE) and carbon number groups were identified using patterns in the ion mobility data, which demonstrated the utility of ion mobility for discovering species relationships within the crude oil sample. The ability to calibrate the ion mobility cell and generate sizes for the detected ions was also recognised as potentially having particular value for the implementation of conversion or hydrotreatment processes in the oil industry.     

Keratin capped silver nanoparticles--synthesis and characterization of a nanomaterial with desirable handling properties

We report for the first time the stabilization of silver nanoparticles in good yield, average diameter 3.5 nm, using wool keratin hydrolysates as stabilizers. The nanoparticles are extremely stable as a suspension and can be lyophilized into a powder and easily reconstituted in solvent with no change in spectral properties relative to the initial suspension. The nanoparticles interact with nitrogen and oxygen moieties of the keratin hydrolysates under the pH conditions used in the synthesis and appear to act as cross-linkers between adjacent chains. The product has excellent handling properties which we believe will make it a very attractive biocompatible coating/additive, providing prolonged antimicrobial efficacy to a wide variety of products such as textiles, plastics, paints, orthopedic devices and others.