Licensing Opportunity: Tandem Pyrolysis – Evolved Gas – Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry

Invention Reference Number: 202405631 Pyrolysis evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography – MS (GC-MS) – are powerful analytical tools for polymer characterization. However, to obtain both EGA-MS and GC-MS data two separate experiments must be performed requiring twice the amount of sample, and an exchange of columns between experiments.

This leads to significant down time between experiments and a disconnect between the thermal profile from EGA-MS and detected products from GC-MS. This technology solves these problems by running EGA-MS and GC-MS in tandem from the gas stream of a single pyrolysis experiment providing both data sets for one sample. Description Pyrolysis evolved gas analysis – mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) provides the thermal profile of a material distinguishing thermal events such as thermal deposition and pyrolysis.

Once identified, further characterization of these events is performed via pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) which offers identification of the specific products released during these thermal events. When combined, both techniques deliver an exhaustive characterization of a material of interest.

However, to get information from both EGA-MS and GC-MS two separate experiments must be performed requiring twice the amount of sample in addition to exchanging the internal column between experimental modes shortening lifespan of the columns. This also leads to a disconnect between the thermal profile and observed products due to sample-sample variability and/or sample inhomogeneity.

This invention resolves these disadvantage by allowing for tandem EGA-MS and GC-MS of a single sample increasing the analytical value of a single experiment.

Benefits Saves time and costs Reduces experiment time by half Uses one sample so multiple samples not required No column exchange required Only one instrument needed, not two Applications and Industries Polymer industries and manufacturers Forensics Microplastic pollutants Contamination Any industry using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry Contact To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.