The Application of Multidimensional Techniques to the Rapid Pyrolysis-GC Profiling of Synthetic Polymers

Abstract

The use of pyroiysis-capi l lary gas chromatographic tech niques for " f ingerpr in t " identif ication of polymers typically results in very complex chromatograms, w i th relatively h igh densi t ies of of ten uninformat ive peak groups occu pying both extremes of the pyrogram. Under certain chro matographic cond i t ions, the more volat i le f ragments wil l stack up in a poor ly resolved mass at the pyrogram f ront whi le the heavy f ragments can result in the undesirable lengthening of the chromatographic run t ime. This report wi l l demonst ra te that hear tcu t t ing, co ld t rapp ing, and backf lush ing techniques can be used to isolate and pro fi le a relat ively narrow retent ion " w i n d o w " f r o m these complex pyrograms, thereby permi t t ing a reduct ion in chromatograph ic run t imes and a reduct ion of the pyrogram complex i ty. This technique cou ld be especial ly useful for those appl icat ions requir ing rapid prel iminary screening of synthet ic po lymer samples.