Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Tunable Carbohydrate-Based Materials for Sorption of Oil Sands Naphthenic Acids

The potential for sorption and possible degradation of components in oil sands processed water (OSPW) by the use of synthetically engineered co-polymers is receiving growing attention. Recent research has highlighted the sorption of total oil sands naphthenic acid fraction components (NAFCs) by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) co-polymers. The incorporation of β-CD within co-polymer frameworks represents a novel modular approach with significant potential for controlled tuning of the textural mesoporosity of the sorbents. Herein, we report the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) characterization of aqueous samples containing oil sands NAFCs following sorption with a range of cyclodextrin-based co-polymers. The materials investigated were β-CD cross-linked with three different types of diisocyanates, namely, (i) 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, (ii) 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and (iii) 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate. Variable sorption of NAFCs was observed according to th...