MEMBRANE INTERFACE FOR THE DIRECT COUPLING OF PYROLYSIS AND MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A new membrane interface, based on the work published on membrane intr oduction mass spectrometry, is developed and used to couple pyrolysis and mass spectrometry. The type of membrane used was a silicon membran e. The interface was used to directly couple a pyrolysis unit and an i on-trap mass spectrometer. The system was tested with Kraton 1107, an isoprene-styrene co-polymer. It proved linear over the range 10-1000 m g l(-1), for each of the four compounds, i.e. isoprene, styrene and tw o isomers of limonene, present in the pyrolysate. Furthermore, the sys tem demonstrated selectivity, i.e. higher permeation rate towards the more volatile and non-polar compounds. Overall the system showed remar kable ease of use and reproducibility. Therefore, this system can be c oupled easily to other hyphenated techniques.