Thermo Electron's Finnigan LTQ FT Mass Spectrometer Is Used for the Direct Analysis of Heavy Petroleum Crude Oil
(September 07, 2005) - Thermo Electron (NYSE:TMO) announces the availability of a new application for its Finnigan(TM) LTQ FT(TM) instrument. As heavier crude oils make up larger proportions of worldwide petroleum reserves, effective processing of heavy petroleum, where variation in the oil composition directly affects the downstream processing, becomes increasingly important. For this reason, a better means of analyzing the composition of crude oil is necessary. To meet this challenge, Thermo has demonstrated use of the Finnigan(TM) LTQ FT(TM) hybrid ion trap mass spectrometer for analyzing petroleum samples.
Historically, the characterization of petroleum relied on extensive chromatography prior to analysis by mass spectrometry. Moreover, traditional vaporization and ionization methods have proved ineffective when processing heavy crude oil. The extraordinary complexity of crude oil requires ultra-high resolving power and sensitivity for the analysis of polar components, which are found at low concentrations in petroleum samples. For the first time, routine, direct ESI (electrospray ionization) analysis of such compounds in heavy petroleum is possible using the Finnigan LTQ FT.
Heavy crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons containing heteroaromatic rings in its polar fraction. The LTQ FT uniquely offers ultra high resolving power to separate isobaric species and measures masses accurately and reproducibly with external mass calibration. Identification of more than 3000 nitrogen containing compounds in a single experiment is possible. For this reason, Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry has emerged as one of the most rigorous techniques available for the direct analysis of heavy crude oil.
For more information about Thermo Electron's Finnigan LTQ FT hybrid linear ion trap mass spectrometer, please call +1 800-532-4752, e-mail analyze@thermo.com or visit www.thermo.com/ms
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A market leader in ion trap, hybrid, magnetic sector mass spectrometers, and hyphenated multi-instrument combinations of these products, Thermo Electron's integrated solutions include state-of-the-art instrument systems, advanced software and HPLC column technology with a wide range of innovative phases and hardware designs - tailored to meet the rigorous demands of lab professionals in applications such as proteomics, drug discovery, environmental analysis and analytical quantification. For more information, visit www.thermo.com/ms
About Thermo Electron Corporation
Thermo Electron Corporation is the world leader in analytical instruments. Our instrument solutions enable our customers to make the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place. Thermo's Life and Laboratory Sciences segment provides analytical instruments, scientific equipment, services and software solutions for life science, drug discovery, clinical, environmental and industrial laboratories. Thermo's Measurement and Control segment is dedicated to providing analytical instruments used in a variety of manufacturing processes and in-the-field applications, including those associated with safety and homeland security. Based near Boston, Massachusetts, Thermo has revenues of approximately $2.7 billion, and employs approximately 11,000 people in 30 countries. For more information, visit www.thermo.com.
