3rd edition | CTinHS Lecture 06: June 19, 2025

3rd edition | Lecture 06

Py-GC-MS in Heritage Science: An Important Investigative Tool for the Analysis of Organic Materials

June 19, 2025 | h 3 pm (CEST)

For the 3rd edition of the Current Topics in Heritage Science lecture series, organized by the emerging professionals of the E-RIHS HS Academy, the sixth lecture will be delivered on June 19, 2025, at 3 pm (CEST), by Jennifer Poulin.

The lecture “Py-GC-MS in Heritage Science: An Important Investigative Tool for the Analysis of Organic Materials” will offers an overview of Py-GC-MS in heritage science, from its historical background and instrumentation to its role in multi-analytical studies, with case studies from the Canadian Conservation Institute and a focus on the ESCAPE tool for data analysis.

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is a technique that offers high sensitivity and specificity in the analysis of polymeric materials. Using thermal energy in an inert atmosphere, the macromolecules are broken apart into smaller, volatile fragments that are separated, ionised and measured. Although the technique is indispensable for the characterisation of polymers, it is also excellent for the analysis of non-polymerised compounds, and mixtures of both. Sample preparation is minimal for Py-GC-MS, and recent advances have made it possible to analyse smaller samples than ever before.

In this lecture we will briefly explore the history of Py-GC-MS in our field, the science behind the application, and the types of pyrolysers that are commonly found in the literature. We will also reflect upon the role that Py-GC-MS plays in multi-analytical investigations. Using case studies from the Canadian Conservation Institute, we will discuss the application of Py-GC-MS to different types of materials that are found in museum collections, including paint media and varnish, archaeological materials, plastics, and natural polymers. Finally, a heritage community-developed tool called ESCAPE (Expert System for Characterisation using AMDIS Plus Excel) will be highlighted for use in Py-GC-MS data analysis.

You will learn

• Types of pyrolysers used for sample introduction with GC-MS
• The advantages and disadvantages
• The role of Py-GC-MS in multi-analytical investigations
• Simplifying data analysis for natural or synthetic materials

Key Topics

• Py-GC-MS Instrumentation
• Thermal degradation
• Sample preparation
• Data analysis tools
• Case Studies

Recommended Literature

• Analytical Methods Committee. “Analytical Pyrolysis in Cultural Heritage.” Analytical Methods 10,46 (2018), pp. 5463–5467.
• Colombini, M.P., and F. Modugno. Organic Mass Spectrometry in Art and Archaeology. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
• Degano, I., F. Modugno, I. Bonaduce, E. Ribechini and M.P. Colombini. “Recent Advances in Analytical Pyrolysis to Investigate Organic Materials in Heritage Science.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 57,25 (2018), pp. 7313–7323.
• Learner, T. “The Analysis of Synthetic Paints by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (PyGCMS).” Studies in Conservation 46,4 (2001), p. 225–241.
• Nasa, J.L., G. Biale, B. Ferriani, R. Trevisan, M.P. Colombini and F. Modugno. “Plastics in Heritage Science: Analytical Pyrolysis Techniques Applied to Objects of Design.” Molecules 25,7 (2020), p. 1705.
• Poulin, J., M. Kearney and M.-A. Veall. “Direct Inlet Py-GC-MS Analysis of Cultural Heritage Materials.” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 164 (2022), p. 105506.
• Tsuge, S., C. Watanabe and H. Ohtani. Pyrolysis-GC/MS Data Book of Synthetic Polymers. Oxford: Elsevier, 2011

Jennifer Poulin is a Senior Conservation Scientist at the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), located in Ottawa. Her educational background is in chemistry, and she holds a BSc (honours) from Acadia University and an MSc from Dalhousie University. She has worked in the analysis of natural products since 1996 and began work at the CCI in 2003. Her main research interests centre on the development of direct inlet pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (DIP-GC-MS) for use on heritage micro-samples, and the identification of natural and synthetic dyes using GC-MS. She employs her GC-MS expertise in the characterisation of Canadian amber, natural and synthetic paint-binding media, organic residues on archaeological objects, pesticides, modern materials, and varnishes and lacquers. Jennifer is a board member of the Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography Users’ Group (MaSC, ICOM-CC Scientific Research WG) and hosted the 2019 MaSC meeting and workshops. She is currently planning the Dyes in History and Archaeology 44 (DHA) conference that will be held in Ottawa in October 2025.