Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (LDI-TOF) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI - TOF) mass spectrometry of an Algerian asphaltene

Both LDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF Mass spectroscopy experiments of an Algerian asphaltene derived from a deposit were performed. LDI mass experiments were conducted for both linear and reflectron modes under laser wavelength/attenuation variation. The different LDI-Mass spectra show that mass distribution depends on experimental condition for masses below 1000 amu and that the average molecular weight is around 650 for the polar fraction and beyond 1000 amu for non-polar ones. The use of different matrices as CHCA, HABA and Dithranol changes slightly the aspect of the spectra.