title: Detailed compositional characterization of plastic waste pyrolysis oil by comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatography coupled to multiple detectors.
abstract: The detailed compositional characterization of plastic waste pyrolysis oil was performed with comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC×GC) coupled to four different detectors: a flame ionization detector (FID), a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD), a nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (NCD) and a time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). The performances of different column combinations were assessed in normal i.e. apolar/mid-polar and reversed configurations for the GC×GC-NCD and GC×GC-SCD analyses. The information obtained from the four detectors and the use of internal standards, i.e. 3-chlorothiophene for the FID and the SCD and 2-chloropyridine for the NCD analysis, enabled the identification and quantification of the pyrolysis oil in terms of both group type and carbon number: hydrocarbon groups (n-paraffins, iso-paraffins, olefins and naphthenes, monoaromatics, naphthenoaromatics, diaromatics, naphthenodiaromatics, triaromatics, naphthenotriaromatics and tetra-aromatics), nitrogen (nitriles, pyridines, quinolines, indole, caprolactam, etc.), sulfur (thiols/sulfides, thiophenes/disulfides, benzothiophenes, dibenzothiophenes, etc.) and oxygen containing compounds (ketones, phenols, aldehydes, ethers, etc.). Quantification of trace impurities is illustrated for indole and caprolactam. The analyzed pyrolysis oil included a significant amount of nitrogen containing compounds (6.4wt%) and to a lesser extent sulfur containing compounds (0.6wt%). These nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds described approximately 80% of the total peak volume for respectively the NCD and SCD analysis. TOF-MS indicated the presence of the oxygen containing compounds. However only a part of the oxygen containing compounds (2.5wt%) was identified because of their low concentrations and possible overlap with the complex hydrocarbon matrix as no selective detector or preparative separation for oxygen compounds was used.
authors: Ghent University, Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
authors: Hilal E
authors: HE
authors: Toraman
authors: Ghent University, Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Dijkmans
authors: Ghent University, Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
authors: Marko R
authors: MR
authors: Djokic
authors: Ghent University, Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium. Electronic address: Kevin.VanGeem@UGent.be.
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: Van Geem
authors: Ghent University, Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
authors: Guy B
authors: GB
authors: Marin
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005410:Flame Ionization; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D062611:Solid Waste
keywords: GC×GC–FID/NCD/SCD/TOF-MS; Mixed plastic waste; Nitrogen containing hydrocarbons; Oxygen containing hydrocarbons; Pyrolysis oil; Sulfur containing hydrocarbons