HIGH-RESOLUTION PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH A MOVABLE REACTION ZONE

A new device was constructed for pyrolysis-gas chromatography and it w as laboratory tested. The device enables the thermal degradation of po lymers inside a capillary pre-column and transfer of the reaction zone into a column oven. The pyrolysis procedure described protects the th ermally sensitive compounds prior to pyrolysis, prevents the process o f irreversible condensation of high-boiling pyrolysis products during the chromatographic process and eliminates extracolumn effects on the peak broadening. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.