Development of a Novel Mass Spectrometric ... - Jacobs University
Development of a Novel Mass Spectrometric ... - Jacobs University
Development of a Novel Mass Spectrometric ... - Jacobs University
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Results and Discussion<br />
members <strong>of</strong> a homologous alkylation series. For example alkanes are sorted<br />
horizontally to the value <strong>of</strong> KMD=1 separated by number <strong>of</strong> alkyl (CH 2 ) groups<br />
whereas the other degraded compounds are appearing in a vertical arrangement<br />
according to their degrees <strong>of</strong> unsaturation (number <strong>of</strong> double bonds). Around 800<br />
elemental compositions in a single waste extract in positive ion mass spectrum<br />
were rapidly distinguised in the plot. To the best <strong>of</strong> our knowledge this is the first<br />
time Kendrick plot is employed to display a nonpolar hydrocarbon content <strong>of</strong> a<br />
certain complex mixture. This 2D chemical sorting allowed tracing the<br />
biodegradation <strong>of</strong> the n-alkanes. The reduction in the number and amount <strong>of</strong> n-<br />
alkanes is greatly desired before the waste would be approved for final landfill.<br />
KMD<br />
1.0<br />
0.8<br />
0.6<br />
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800<br />
NKM<br />
Figure 3-74 Kendrick plot for the light shredder waste<br />
It is emphasized from the above graph that 90% <strong>of</strong> the components are<br />
hydrocarbons having a KMD around 1. The majority <strong>of</strong> the content appears as<br />
explained earlier to be degraded compounds varying by their doubly bond<br />
equivalents as their unsaturation degrees. The horizontal lines having different<br />
KMD values suggest a dehydrogenation process taking place during microbial<br />
processing. (M-1) + ions <strong>of</strong> n-alkanes are aligned horizontally at KMD = 0. (M-1) +<br />
ions <strong>of</strong> n-alkanes aligned at KMD=0, a line which is not shown in the plot because<br />
y-axis is enlarged for better screening <strong>of</strong> the set <strong>of</strong> data points. Molecular ions, M •+<br />
99