Using Pyrolysis-GC×GC-MS for Improved Polymer Analysis of Diverse Polyethylene (PE) Materials

JSB has released a new application note, ‘Improved Polymer Analysis by Using PyrolysisGC×GC-ms: Diverse Polyethylene (PE) Materials’, describing how to overcome the challenge of too complex pyrolysis profiles when using GC-MS.

Pyrolysis coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (py-GC×GC-MS) is a very powerful technique for the characterisation of complex matrices. In the application note the Pyrolysis-GCxGC-MS method was applied to two polyethylene standards with low (LD-PE) and high (HD-PE) density as well as real-life PE packaging materials.

The results established that Py-GC×GC-MS is a very powerful analytical tool for improved polymer analysis and that 2D pyrograms provide more accurate and detailed sample characterisation, as well as proving remarkably effective for sample comparison and fingerprinting. The differences in the pyrolysis profiles of LD-PE and HD-PE standards and samples are highlighted with a level of detail that would not be possible by py-GC-MS and the real-life PE samples are effectively grouped as LD or HD materials with PCA analysis. Furthermore, it is possible to detect and identify unknowns of possible interest, such as antioxidants and UV light stabilisers, in an easier and more confident way.

Do you want to know more about this application note? Click here to contact one of the JSB specialists.