Pyrolysis chromatography of lipids. I. Mass spectrometric identification of pyrolysis products of hydrocarbons.

The products of pyrolysis at 600C of normal paraffins C(10)-C(18), 2-methyl octadecane, 4-methyl octadecane, 6-methyl octadecane, cyclohexyl decane, cyclopentyl decane, 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethyl nonane, pristane and phytane were studied by means of a pyrolysis gas chromatograph directly coupled to a mass spectrometer. n-Paraffins yield a homologous series of n-olefins. Branched paraffins yield two homologous series, one of n-olefins and one of branched olefins. The n-olefin corresponding to the position of the branch is not formed. Interpretation of pyrolograms is similar in principle to the interpretation of mass spectra.