Characterization of Industrial Plastics Using Pyrolysis Techniques

This technical report presents a methodology for the characterization of virgin and recycled industrial plastics using pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The study outlines the application of soft ionization techniques to analyze plastic samples, facilitating the identification of unique chemical markers that differentiate between various materials. The report details the experimental setup, including sample preparation, pyrolysis conditions, and data management protocols. It describes the analytical workflow developed to assess the differences between virgin and recycled plastics, utilizing statistical analyses to interpret the acquired data. The findings include the identification of specific markers associated with each sample type, supported by principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis. The report emphasizes the importance of these techniques in ensuring the safety and quality of recycled materials for industrial applications, aligning with the EU's circular plastic economy strategies.