Online normal‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: Effects of different ionization methods on the characterization of highly complex crude oil mixtures

RATIONALE Characterization of crude oil represents a challenge for researchers due to its complexity. While Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR MS) is the method of choice for such complex matrices the high number of ions present limits the efficiency of the analysis due to charge competition and space charge effects. One way to solve this problem is the direct coupling of FT‐ICR MS with high‐performance liquid...