Pyrolysis gas chromatography -- a potential technique for characterization of complex organic material.

A pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC) technique is described and various pyrolysers discussed. Results from analyses of synthetic polymers and organic salts are given. The influence of temperature rise time, pyrolysis temperature, pyrolysis time and sample size is considered. Pyrolysis studies on microorganisms are described various ways of improving the technique are considered.