Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/ion‐trap mass spectrometry of the ‘tooth brush’ tree ( <i>Salvadora persica</i> L.)

Abstract

Abstract Chemical characterization of ‘tooth brush’ tree (Salvadora persica L.) sticks was carried out using a pyrolysis/ gas chromatograph coupled to an ion‐trap detector mass spectrometer. Electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra, along with chromatographic profiles obtained by both flame ionization and nitrogen/phosphorous detectors, enabled the structure of some eighty pyrolysis fragments to be proposed. These were mainly lignin and polysaccharide derivatives of phenolic and furanic natures, respectively. However, compared with the pyro‐grams of other well‐studied lignocellulosic materials, S. persica showed several unique nitrogen‐containing compounds, some of which were tentatively identified as pyrrolidine, pyrrole and piperidine derivatives on the basis of their mass spectra and chromatographic elution order.