Pyrolysis gas chromatography of microorganisms. Influence of various pyrolysis parameters on the yield of volatile organic products.

Bacteroides fragilis was analysed by pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC). The influence of temperature rise time, pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis time on the yield of volatile organic pyrolysis products was studied. The use of short pyrolysis time (8 msec) and a high pyrolysis end temperature (1300 degrees C) was found to provide a high yield. In consecutive analyses of the test organism, under the pyrolysis conditions indicated, the standard deviation of the total yield of volatile organic products was +/- 7%. The pyrolysis technique described suggests that few secondary reactions of the pyrolysis fragments occur.