Py-GC-MS based tandem microreactor
Fast pyrolysis experiments are carried out in a Frontier Laboratories Multi-shot micropyrolyser. The Frontier pyrolyser technique utilizes a small cup and micro furnace heating system. The sample cup containing a few micrograms of biomass free-falls into the preheated furnace. The temperature goes from ambient to pyrolysis temperature in less than 20 milliseconds. Pyrolysis occurs instantly and the gaseous decomposition products are either directly transferred to the GC-MS for identification and quantification of the pyrolysis vapour constituents, or they can be first passed through a catalyst bed in the ‘Tandem Pyrolyser’, a secondary reaction tube, before analysis. The low vapour residence times combined with the high heating rates obtained in the small samples used majorly promote primary decomposition.The setup contains (1) Frontier Laboratories Multi-Shot pyrolyser Rx-3050TR with tandem reactor for vapor-phase catalytic experiments (2) Frontier Laboratories' HP-3050F high pressure flow controller which allows the unit to run at high pressures up to 3 MPa, using either He or H2 gas (3) TRACE GC Ultra with split/splitless injection port (4) ISQ Single Quadrupole MS.
