**4.2 LmPy-GC/MSMS of solid bitumen samples**

An isolated solid bitumen particle was analyzed to check its molecular organic composition. **Figure 11** shows the identification and selection of solid bitumen particles for pyrolysis and, of the craters and halo, and oil droplets produced in the

#### **Figure 9.**

*Photomicrographs of hand-picked Botryococcus braunii particles with craters and oil drops generated by LmPy-GC/MSMS analysis. Photomicrographs were taken under TWL (a) and FM (b).*

#### **Figure 10.**

*Total ion chromatograms (TICs) from LmPy-GC/MSMS analysis of the Botryococcus braunii particles after thermal extraction (A) and after different analyses of the same sample but different particles (B, C, and D). n-alkanes (*●*) and n-alkenes (*○*) profile distributions.*

#### **Figure 11.**

*Selected isolated solid bitumen particle after LmPy-GC/MSMS analysis showing craters and halo and oil droplets being produced by laser irradiation. Photomicrographs were taken under TWL (a) and FM (b).*

sample after laser irradiation. The most favorable parameters, 25A, and 0.8 s, for primary pyrolysate generation, were obtained after testing different laser energy and irradiation time.

## *4.2.1 Geochemical characterization of the original bitumen sample*

The total ion chromatogram (TIC) in **Figure 12**, shows the predominance of 8,14-Secohopane C29 hydrocarbon (m/z 123) and absence of other members of this *Using LmPy-GC/MSMS to Molecular Characterization of Organic Components… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.114360*

#### **Figure 12.**

*TIC and profile of n-alkanes (m/z 85), terpanes (m/z 191), steranes (m/z 217), secohopanes (m/z 123), and aromatic secohopanes (m/z 363 and 365) compounds from the original solid bitumen sample.*

major hydrocarbon series such as D-ring monoaromatic 8,14- secohopane (m/z 365) and D, E-ring aromatic 8,14-secohopane (m/z 363). Results showed low concentration of *n*-alkanes and isoprenoids (m/z 85), presence of tricyclic terpanes and unidentified pentacyclic terpanes (m/z 191), and absence of steranes (m/z 217).
