Compositional Characterization of Bitumen/Water Emulsion Films by Negative and Positive Ion Electrospray Ionization and Field Desorption/Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry
By means of electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT ICR MS) and automated field desorption/ionization (FD) FT ICR MS, we identify nonvolatile nonpolar, polar acidic, and basic water in bitumen emulsion film stabilizers. Highly condensed aromatic basic, nonpolar, and acidic asphaltene multilayered films stabilize emulsions near or at critical bitumen concentration for asphaltene flocculation. Solvent diluent added beyond the critical dilution concentration precipitates highly condensed acidic, all basic, and most neutral species from the oil/water interface. The most abundant classes in high bitumen concentration emulsion films include neutral pure hydrocarbons and S, acidic O2 and O2S, and basic N and NS heteroatom classes. Highly abundant low bitumen concentration emulsion film stabilizers include acidic O2, O4, and O3S classes.