Identification of molecular masses up to 270 000 u in coal and coal‐derived products by matrix‐assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry

Molecular masses up to 270 000 u have been observed during matrix‐assisted laser desorption mass spectroscopy on a sample of bituminous coal; the major fraction of desorbed ions appeared between m/z values of 800 and 5000. Similar mass distributions have been found in a coal‐liquefaction extract and a pyrolysis tar. The highest molecular masses identified in this work far exceed previously reported high molecular masses found in coal‐derived products (12 000 u), which were also detected by laser‐desorption mass spectrometry.