Application of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in the global carbon cycle, and an in-depth analysis of its chemical composition is fundamental to the study of its environmental and biogeochemical behavior and significance. DOM is a complex mixture of organic substances, and determining its molecular composition is a long-standing challenge in the field of analytical chemistry. The development and application of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) has enabled the identification of the chemical composition of DOM at the molecular level. This paper summarizes progress made in the molecular characterization of DOM based on the FT-ICR MS technique, including DOM sample pretreatment methods, mass spectrometry ionization techniques, data acquisition, data processing and presentation, and molecular structure characterization. Focusing on the work done by the instrument at the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing in the China University of Petroleum, Beijing, we introduce applications of FT-ICR MS in the fields of earth science, environmental science and engineering, and look ahead to further research directions in the future.