Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation

A slightly and two severely biodegraded crude oils with the same origin were analysed using negative-ion electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI Orbitrap MS), gas chromatography-nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (GC-NCD), and GC-sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) to investi...

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Main Authors: Xiong Cheng, Dujie Hou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/300
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author Xiong Cheng
Dujie Hou
author_facet Xiong Cheng
Dujie Hou
author_sort Xiong Cheng
collection DOAJ
description A slightly and two severely biodegraded crude oils with the same origin were analysed using negative-ion electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI Orbitrap MS), gas chromatography-nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (GC-NCD), and GC-sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) to investigate the composition of heteroatomic compounds and their fate during severe biodegradation and to provide insights into biodegradation pathway of hopanes, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds. Twelve heteroatomic compound classes, including O<sub>1</sub>–O<sub>5</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub>–N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>S<sub>1</sub> and O<sub>3</sub>S<sub>1</sub>, were detected and assigned unambiguous molecular formulae. The O<sub>1</sub> species are likely phenols with additional naphthenic and/or aromatic rings. Carboxylic acids (O<sub>2</sub> species) are originated from oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the tricyclic naphthenic acids are the most resistant, followed by bicyclics. Hopanes could be biodegraded by demethylation or by unstable hopanoic acids as intermediates to yield 25-norhopanes. The N<sub>1</sub> species are pyrrolic compounds with naphthenic and/or aromatic rings and are dominated by carbazole analogues. Carbazoles with more aromatic rings are more resistant to biodegradation. The N<sub>1</sub> species could be converted to N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub> and N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>2</sub> compounds via ring-opening and hydroxylation pathways. The N<sub>1</sub>S<sub>1</sub> species contain a pyrrolic and cyclic sulfide structure, which are highly recalcitrant to biodegradation. Benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes might be biodegraded via the complete pathway or the sulfur-specific pathway rather than by other pathways to yield acidic oxygenated sulfur compounds.
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spelling doaj.art-cc7386518e524f6fbdb210cafab3cda42023-12-03T12:21:05ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-01-0114230010.3390/en14020300Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds BiodegradationXiong Cheng0Dujie Hou1School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, ChinaA slightly and two severely biodegraded crude oils with the same origin were analysed using negative-ion electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI Orbitrap MS), gas chromatography-nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (GC-NCD), and GC-sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) to investigate the composition of heteroatomic compounds and their fate during severe biodegradation and to provide insights into biodegradation pathway of hopanes, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds. Twelve heteroatomic compound classes, including O<sub>1</sub>–O<sub>5</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub>–N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, N<sub>1</sub>S<sub>1</sub> and O<sub>3</sub>S<sub>1</sub>, were detected and assigned unambiguous molecular formulae. The O<sub>1</sub> species are likely phenols with additional naphthenic and/or aromatic rings. Carboxylic acids (O<sub>2</sub> species) are originated from oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the tricyclic naphthenic acids are the most resistant, followed by bicyclics. Hopanes could be biodegraded by demethylation or by unstable hopanoic acids as intermediates to yield 25-norhopanes. The N<sub>1</sub> species are pyrrolic compounds with naphthenic and/or aromatic rings and are dominated by carbazole analogues. Carbazoles with more aromatic rings are more resistant to biodegradation. The N<sub>1</sub> species could be converted to N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub> and N<sub>1</sub>O<sub>2</sub> compounds via ring-opening and hydroxylation pathways. The N<sub>1</sub>S<sub>1</sub> species contain a pyrrolic and cyclic sulfide structure, which are highly recalcitrant to biodegradation. Benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes might be biodegraded via the complete pathway or the sulfur-specific pathway rather than by other pathways to yield acidic oxygenated sulfur compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/300biodegradationcrude oilultra-high-resolution mass spectrometryESI Orbitrap MSNSO compounds
spellingShingle Xiong Cheng
Dujie Hou
Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
Energies
biodegradation
crude oil
ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry
ESI Orbitrap MS
NSO compounds
title Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
title_full Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
title_fullStr Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
title_short Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
title_sort characterization of severely biodegraded crude oils using negative ion esi orbitrap ms gc ncd and gc scd insights into heteroatomic compounds biodegradation
topic biodegradation
crude oil
ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry
ESI Orbitrap MS
NSO compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/300
work_keys_str_mv AT xiongcheng characterizationofseverelybiodegradedcrudeoilsusingnegativeionesiorbitrapmsgcncdandgcscdinsightsintoheteroatomiccompoundsbiodegradation
AT dujiehou characterizationofseverelybiodegradedcrudeoilsusingnegativeionesiorbitrapmsgcncdandgcscdinsightsintoheteroatomiccompoundsbiodegradation