Throwing light on petroleum: simulated exposure of crude oil to sunlight and characterization using atmospheric pressure photoionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

The change in profile of crude oil following a release into the environment is a topic of significant interest, and there is a need to develop analytical methodologies for understanding natural processes which affect related complex mixture profiles. One such process is the exposure to sunlight. In the following investigation, three oil samples were studied: one served as a control, a second was subjected to irradiation by an ultraviolet lamp, and a third sample was irradiated by a SoLux light source which closely models the solar emission profile.