Easy Ambient Sonic-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry: An Alternative Method to Quantify Organic Impurities in Biodiesel

Abstract

In recent years, biodiesel has gained considerable attention because of the increasing concern for the environmental problems associated with the use of fossil fuels. The determination of fuel quality is an issue of great importance to the successful commercialization of biodiesel. According to ASTM and EN standards, the analysis of free and total glycerin, contaminants that can lead to serious engine problems, must be carried out by GC analysis. This work presents an alternative method for identifying and quantifying these major contaminants in biodiesel. EASI(+)-MS has shown to function as a fast and secure method, with little or no sample preparation and no pre-separation.