Comparison of the analytical performance of filament and Curie-point pyrolysis devices

A wide range (16) of synthetic polymers, biological and organic geochemical samples was chosen to compare the performance of filament and Curie-point pyrolysis devices in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). The pyrolysis results were compared qualitatively, quantitatively and using statistical data visualization methods. Multivariate visualization methods showed a good reproducibility between consecutive runs of the same sample. Statistical analyses of processed py-GC/MS data and qualitative comparison of total ion and mass chromatograms revealed a high degree of comparability between the data obtained from the two pyrolysis devices. This investigation constitutes the first systematic comparison of the two most widely used pyrolysis devices and demonstrates that their results can be confidently cross-referenced providing that all other analytical variables, e.g. sample size, GC column stationary phase, carrier gas, etc. are strictly controlled. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.