Pyrolysis is the breaking apart of chemical bonds through thermal energy. Analytical pyrolysis introduces solid and high molecular weight samples to a gas chromatograph by breaking them down. It is used to minimize sample preparation and analyze whole samples. Applications include forensics, polymers, and microorganisms. Samples are placed in a quartz tube or vial and pyrolyzed. Liquid samples can also be injected and pyrolyzed. The OPTIC inlet allows for fast, high temperature pyrolysis for both solid and liquid samples.

2. Pyrolysis is the breaking apart of chemical bonds by thermal energy, with
the production of smaller, more volatile components. Analytical pyrolysis
is used to introduce certain sample types to a gas chromatograph, which
can only handle compounds in the semi-volatile range. These sample
types include solids and high molecular-weight compounds. Pyrolysis is
also used to minimize sample preparation, or when analysis of a whole
sample is desired. Applications for pyrolysis include forensics, paints, ink,
art materials, polymers, adhesives, surfactants, and even microorganisms.
One of the benefits of pyrolysis is that sample preparation is usually
minimal, consisting of trimming and weighing solid samples into a quartz
tube or micro vial. Or, liquid samples can be delivered onto a probe or
micro vial using a microliter syringe. In both cases, the sample capacity is
in the microgram or low milligram range.
Introduction

3. With OPTIC Multi Mode Inlet Pyrolysis GCMS is simple cheap and easy.
Introduction OPTIC for Pyrolysis

4. Cut a small piece from the sample
Put sample in the micro vial
Weighing the sample
Place micro vial in liner
Place liner in the OPTIC inlet
Run the sample
Solid sample
Placing the liner can also be automated with LINEX.

5. Sample: 1.0 mg of solid polymer
OPTIC method
Method Type Split
End Time 44:19 mm:ss
Initial Temperature 50 °C
Ramp Rate 60 °C /s
Final Temperature 600 °C
Transfer Time 03:00 mm:ss
Transfer Column Flow 1.0 ml/min
Start Column Flow 1.0 ml/min
End Column Flow 1.0 ml/min
Split Flow 250 ml/min
Save Split Flow 50 ml/min
Pyrolysis Solid Polymer

6. Liquid sample
A liquid sample for pyrolysis can be handled like a “normal” liquid injection. Even
Large Volume Injection Pyrolysis is possible. Because the injections are done with
a micro syringe it is possible to perform quantitative pyrolysis with the OPTIC
inlet.
The patented direct heating technology of the OPTIC makes it
possible to heat very fast to a high end temperature.
- Liquid injection is done at low temperature
- Solvent is vented away via the split line
- Inlet is heated with fast ramp rate

7. Pyrolysis liquid injection, sample in DCM
2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 20.0 22.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
(x1,000,000)
1 µl injection, sample in DCM
3,7 min dimethylsiloxane trimer
6.2 min phenol
6.3 min octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane
7.7 min 4-methyl-phenol
8.7 min dimethylsiloxane pentamer
19.8 min BPA

8. Linearity of Py-GC-MS for PMMA and PS
Range: 160 µg/ml to 0 µg/ml
Corr. R: 0.9992
Polystyrene and PMMA blend 1µl injection
Range: 170 µg/ml to 0 µg/ml
Corr. R: 0.9990
styrene (m/z 104) PMMA (m/z 100)
0.00E+00
2.00E+05
4.00E+05
6.00E+05
8.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.20E+06
1.40E+06
1.60E+06
1.80E+06
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Concentration of PS (µg/ml)
areaanalyte
0.00E+00
2.00E+05
4.00E+05
6.00E+05
8.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.20E+06
1.40E+06
1.60E+06
1.80E+06
2.00E+06
0 50 100 150 200 250
Concentration of PMMA (µg/ml)
areaanalyte
Pyrolysis liquid injection

9. An optional cryogenic trap is available with rapid cooling and efficient re-
heating, ensuring reproducibility and optimum peak shape.
Cryo-focusing is used to narrow the width of a peak, as a result the signal to
noise ratio and the detection limit are improved.
Cold Trap for refocussing of volatiles
For more information about the
cryo trap see this presentation.

10. www.atasgl.com
Visit www.glsciences.eu for more information.