A Rapid and Versatile Method to Determine Methanol in Biofuels and Gasoline by Ambient Mass Spectrometry using a V-EASI Source

Abstract

Methanol is an organic compound commonly used as a solvent in the synthesis of fuel for internal combustion engines. However, the adulteration of fuels (biofuels and gasoline) with methanol is commonly practiced throughout world, and regulations to control the content of methanol in these fuels have been imposed. Although methanol in fuels can be analyzed by numerous analytical techniques, the traditional methods have some disadvantages, such as interferences, incomplete reactions, and lengthy analysis. Thus, the present work proposes a rapid and versatile methanol determination method using a simple derivatization of the sample with nicotinoyl chloride and subsequent fast analysis by ambient mass spectrometry using venturi easy ambient sonicspray ionization (V-EASI-MS), without preseparation, taking into account all parameters of linearity, limits of detection, quantification, accuracy, and precision based on ISO 5725. We were able to develop a powerful method to quantify methanol in fuels which can be used as an alternative method to detect adulteration by government agencies.

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review

“…Tega et al described the use of venturi (V)‐EASI for the analysis of fuels 137 . In recent years, the adulteration of gasoline and biofuels with methanol has become common practice, resulting in the need for rapid analytical protocols for sample authentication.…”

“…Tega et al described the use of venturi (V)‐EASI for the analysis of fuels. 137 In recent years, the adulteration of gasoline and biofuels with methanol has become common practice, resulting in the need for rapid analytical protocols for sample authentication. Gasoline, ethanol fuel, and biodiesel were acquired from service stations, and the detection and quantification of methanol were rapidly achieved by V‐EASI, with an analysis time of 30 s per sample.…”

Novas fontes de ionização ambiente em espectrometria de massas para quantificação de compostos heterocíclicos nitrogenados, ácidos carboxílicos e álcoois

“…Esse efeito de auto bombeamento torna a fonte ainda mais fácil de montar e operar, sendo capaz de realizar análises em amostras líquidas ou sólidas sem a necessidade de bombeamento externo Tonin et al, 2018). A ionização ambiente por spray sônico e efeito Venturi tem sido utilizada na determinação de metanol em biocombustíveis e gasolina (Tega et al, 2020), no controle de qualidade de alimentos (Porcari et al, 2016), na determinação da concentração de drogas (Liu et al, 2015), e muitas outras.…”