Analysis of natural organic matter via fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: an overview of recent non-petroleum applications

Among the different techniques for mass analysis, ultra‐high‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) is the method of choice for highly complex samples, as it offers unrivaled mass accuracy and resolving power, combined with a high degree of flexibility in hybrid instruments as well as for ion activation techniques. FTICR instruments are readily embraced by the biological and biomedical research communities and applied over a wide range of applications for the analysis of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. In the field of natural organic matter (NOM) analysis, petroleum‐related studies currently dominate FTICR‐MS applications. Recently, however, there is a growing interest in developing high‐performance MS methods for the characterization of NOM samples from natural aquatic and terrestrial environments. Here, we present an overview of FTICR‐MS techniques for complex, non‐petroleum NOM samples, including data analysis and novel tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) methods for structural classifications. © 2020 The Authors. Mass Spectrometry Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.