TG-MS Analysis for Elemental Composition of Organic Matters and Their Structural Properties

Abstract

A novel approach for determining the elemental content of organic matter through thermal gravimetric analysis coupled online with a mass spectrometer (TG-MS) is disclosed. This method not only yields results equivalent to ASTM analysis but also provides insight into the covalent bond structure within the sample. The principle of this technique consists of the combustion of organic matter in an oxygen-enriched environment within the thermogravimetric (TG) system. The gases generated during combustion, including carbon-containing gases such as CO₂ and CO, hydrogen-containing gases such as H₂O, nitrogen-containing gases such as NO₂ and NO, and sulfur-containing gases such as SO₂, are then analyzed using online MS. Quantitative analysis of these gases is accomplished via an external standard method, facilitating the determination of the elemental content of the organic matters. The experiment employed a temperature-programmed heating rate of 10 °C/min, a carrier gas flow rate of 100 mL/min, and an oxygen concentration of 50% by volume. We conducted tests on a range of 23 samples, including coal, heavy oil, oil shale, and biomass. The results for coal, oil shale, and biomass samples were consistent with ASTM standards, while the heavy oil samples demonstrated slightly lower values compared with ASTM methods. Furthermore, we probed into the mass loss and gas generation processes that occur during the combustion of samples, and these results enhance the understanding of the mechanism of organic matter combustion as well as that of the covalent bond structure of organic matters.