Analysis of Titan tholin pyrolysis products by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
The reddish brown haze that surrounds Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is thought to consist of tholin-like organic aerosols. Tholins are complex materials of largely unknown structure. The very high peak capacity and structured chromatograms obtained from comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC x GC) are attractive attributes for the characterization of tholin pyrolysis products. In this report, GC x GC with time-of-flight MS detection and a flash pyrolysis inlet is used to characterize tholin pyrolysis products. Identified pyrolysis products include low-molecular-weight nitriles, alkyl substituted pyrroles, linear and branched hydrocarbons, alkyl-substituted benzenes and PAH compounds. The pyrolysis of standards found in tholin pyrolysate showed that little alteration occurred and thus these structures are likely present in the tholin material.
McGuigan
Megan
M
Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, The University of Michigan, USA. mmcguiga@umich.edu <mmcguiga@umich.edu>
Waite
J Hunter
JH
Imanaka
Hiroshi
H
Sacks
Richard D
RD
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D018539:Saturn
D000336:Aerosols; D009930:Organic Chemicals