Investigating Molecular Masses Formed during the Heat Treatment of Petroleum Pitches by Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry was used to characterize isotropic and anisotropic pitches as well as the parent heavy petroleum oil in order to investigate the molecular mass distributions (MMD) and changes during the heat treatment process. Sample preparation and matrix choice have a strong influence on MMD and results confirmed the oligomeric nature and the increasing molecular sizes as heat treatment proceeds.