ANALYSIS OF GRADED FLAX FIBER AND YARN BY PYROLYSIS MASS-SPECTROMETRYAND PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography ma ss spectrometry (PyGCMS) were used to analyze samples of flax fiber an d yarn which had been graded as being of high, medium, and low quality . In-source, low-voltage PyMS spectra were quite similar overall. To i dentify potential quality markers, we screened mass responses with thr esholds for the following criteria: (1) intensity, (2) repeatability, and (3) correlation to quality level. Chemical interpretation of the s elected masses suggests the samples may be differentiated based on the levels of pectin, fatty acids, protein, and phenolics. PyGCMS of the graded flax fiber and yarn provided additional information about the i dentity of some of the selected mass responses. More palmitic acid was detected in the low-quality fiber and yarn samples. Sinapylaldehyde a nd sinapyl alcohol were present in higher concentrations in the low-qu ality yarn as compared to the high-quality material. These data sugges t that the amounts of cuticular material and waxes are inversely relat ed to quality in both flax fiber and yarn and may be used as markers f or certain aspects of flax product quality.