Characterization of synthetic polymers and speck impurities in cellulose pulp: A comparison between pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used for characterizing specks in cellulose pulp, polymeric materials and pitch formed during the cellulose extraction and paper production in the Brazilian mill. Three samples were analyzed and the pyrograms and infrared spectra obtained were compared. The results showed that the analytical pyrolysis more effectively differentiated between impurities (dirt specks) when compared to the infrared spectroscopy.