Micro-analyses of polymers

Polymers, including biopolymers are characterised either by analytical flash pyrolysis in direct combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or by the use of advanced dynamic mass spectrometry.

In general, microgram samples are accurately heated to a predetermined temperature using heating rates on the order 10⁴ –10⁵ °C/s. This ensures that structural information is retained in the thermally generated products. The method can advantageously be used for identification of polymer systems, determination of thermally released compounds as well as for solid phase kinetics.

Advanced dynamic mass spectrometry can successfully be applied directly to a variety of low molar mass polymers. The method is in particular useful for the analysis of end-groups and the determination of point modification of the polymers. In addition, this strategy enables individual oligomeric block-polymers to be sequenced.

Page updated 19.11.2007

Helge Egsgaard
senior researcher
Biosystems (BIO)
Dir tel+45 46775440