The comparison of naturally weathered oil and artificially photo-degraded oil at the molecular level by a combination of SARA fractionation and FT-ICR MS

- Weathered oils from the Hebei Spirit oil spill and photo degraded oils are compared.
- We investigate changes of polar species at the molecular level by 15T FT-ICR MS.
- Significant reduction of sulfur class compounds in saturates fraction is observed.
- The relative abundance of protonated compounds (presumably basic nitrogen compounds) increase after degradation.
- Changes of polar compounds occurred by natural and photo degradation are similar.