The automation of the acquisition and evaluation of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data for paint samples

The evaluation is described of an automated pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system combined with a software package to convert total ion current chromatograms into forms that resemble a conventional mass spectra called “spectragrams”. The spectragram for a single paint sample can be “closest fit” matched to a previously created paint pyrogram library via pre-determined target compounds in a handling list. Up to 45 paint samples can be dealt with in an overnight unattended run.