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Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Biogeochemical research
Biogeochemical research
Biogeochemical research
Biogeochemical research
Biogeochemical research

Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is a method of chemical analysis where a sample is introduced to an anaerobically heated environment and broken down into smaller stable fragments or components through controlled thermal degradation (pyrolysis). The use of Py-GC-MS allows researchers to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of components in environmental specimens. By eliminating the need for extraction and dilution sample preparation, Py-GC-MS can characterize a wide variety of polymers and composite materials that cannot be analyzed using traditional GC-MS methods. The Py-GC-MS technique is suitable for a variety of environmental applications, including the identification and characterization of micro- and nano-plastic contamination.

Research application

Available instruments

  • CDS Model 6200 Pyroprobe
  • Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 NX gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS)

Tips for success

  • Solid powder or concentrated suspension/aqueous samples work best for this instrument.
  • A small sample size (µg to a few mg or µL) is needed for py-GC-MS, so careful sample selection should be taken to ensure they are representative of the system under study.

Contributing team and resources

EMSL develops and deploys capabilities for the user program by conducting original research independently or in partnership with others and by adapting/advancing science and technologies developed outside of EMSL. In some instances, EMSL directly deploys mature capabilities developed by others where there is value for the EMSL user community. The following grants/activities, PI’s and teams contributed to the development of this capability: 

  • Qian Zhao and Sarah Leichty, DE-AC05-76RL01830, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Project Number: 208494)
  • Qian Zhao and Odeta Qafoku, DE-AC05-76RL01830, Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related publications

Leichty, Sarah I., Zhao, Qian, Kasanke, Christopher P., Qafoku, Nikolla P., Weitz, Karl K., & Hofmockel, Kirsten S.. Interrogating organo-mineral interactions by Py-GC/MS and ToF-SIMS. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1987706

Qafoku, O., Battu, A. K., Varga, T., Marcus, M. A., O'Callahan, B., Zhao, Q., ... & Leichty, S. I. (2023). Chemical composition, coordination, and stability of Ca–organic associations in the presence of dissolving calcite. Environmental Science: Nano, 10(5), 1504-1517. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EN01143C

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