Analysis of UV-328 and Dechlorane Plus

Importance of the Topic

Pyrolyzer/thermal desorption–GC-MS enables direct, solvent-free analysis of high-molecular-weight additives such as UV absorbers and fluorinated flame retardants. Rapid thermal extraction followed by separation and sensitive detection addresses growing regulatory and quality-control demands in plastics, coatings and electronic materials.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note demonstrates an optimized workflow for the simultaneous analysis of UV-328 and Dechlorane Plus in polymer matrices. The study aims to achieve efficient thermal desorption, chromatographic separation and selective mass spectrometric detection with minimal sample preparation.

Methodology and Instrumentation

An on-line heart-cut evolved gas analysis (EGA) mode was used to transfer thermally desorbed analytes into the GC-MS. A temperature program in the pyrolyzer enabled stepwise heating from 200 °C to 340 °C, ensuring complete volatilization of target compounds. Subsequent GC separation employed a 15 m × 0.25 mm i.d. capillary column with integrated guard. Selected ion monitoring at m/z 351.2 and 271.8 provided specific detection of UV-328 and Dechlorane Plus species.

Main Results and Discussion

• Clear baseline separation was achieved for UV-328 (RT ~6.0 min), the Dechlorane Plus isomer (~9.0 min) and Dechlorane Plus (~10.5 min).
• SIM detection afforded high sensitivity with negligible background interference.
• The heart-cut EGA mode preserved chromatographic resolution by excluding early-eluting matrix volatiles.
• Repeatability tests showed relative standard deviations below 5% for both analytes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Eliminates laborious solvent extraction, reducing analysis time and environmental impact.
• Offers high throughput screening for routine QA/QC of polymers, coatings and electronics.
• Meets regulatory requirements for monitoring restricted additives in consumer products.

Future Trends and Applications

• Integration with high-resolution mass spectrometry for broader compound identification.
• Expansion to multi-residue analysis of emerging additives and degradation products.
• Increased automation and in-situ thermal desorption for on-line process monitoring.

Conclusion

The coupling of pyrolyzer/thermal desorption with GC-MS provides a robust, solvent-free technique for the rapid and selective analysis of UV-328 and Dechlorane Plus. The approach streamlines sample preparation, enhances throughput and supports compliance testing in diverse material applications.

Instrumentation

• Pyrolyzer: EGA/PY-3030D Multi-Shot Pyrolyzer with AS-1020E Auto-Shot Sampler (Frontier Laboratories)
• GC-MS: Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 NX
• Column: SH-I-1MS (15 m × 0.25 mm I.D., 0.1 µm + 2 m guard)
• Carrier Gas: He, linear velocity control 52.1 cm/s
• Pyrolyzer Program: 200 °C to 300 °C at 20 °C/min, then 300 °C to 340 °C at 5 °C/min (1 min hold)
• GC Program: 80 °C to 320 °C at 20 °C/min (4 min hold); injection 300 °C, split 1:50
• MS Conditions: EI ionization, ion source 230 °C, interface 320 °C, SIM at m/z 351.2 and 271.8

References

1. Shimadzu Corporation. Application News 01-00488 (JP, ENG).
2. Shimadzu Corporation. GCMS-QP2020 NX and CoreFocus® are trademarks.