Abstract
A pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometric method for the identification of polysaccharides is described.
The pyrolysis of these polymers was carried out at 590°C by the Curie Point Pyrolyser in helium atmosphere and 27 decomposition products were identified by comparing their retention times and mass spectra with their authentic samples.
The profiles of pyrolysis chromatograms and the composition of breakdown products were specific for each polymer and related to the chemical structure.
Multiple ion mass chromatograms were shown to be useful for exploring the characteristic differences between polysaccharides.
