Investigation of hexabromocyclododecane thermal degradation pathways by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The decomposition products of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a widely used brominated flame retardant, were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). HBCD thermal degradation was conducted under a moderate heating rate (10 °C/min) in a batch reactor using both inert and oxidizing...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rapid communications in mass spectrometry 2001-01, Vol.15 (9), p.690-698
Main Authors: Barontini, Federica, Cozzani, Valerio, Cuzzola, Angela, Petarca, Luigi
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The decomposition products of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a widely used brominated flame retardant, were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). HBCD thermal degradation was conducted under a moderate heating rate (10 °C/min) in a batch reactor using both inert and oxidizing atmospheres. GC/MS analysis allowed the identification of substances derived from the primary pyrolysis process at the moderate heating rates used. The presence of oxygen seems to have a negligible influence on the degradation products obtained in HBCD decomposition, at least at moderate heating rates. Based on the identified products, the main pathways of HBCD thermal degradation were assessed and a mechanism for HBCD decomposition was proposed. The results obtained indicate that hexa‐, penta‐ and tetrabrominated polyaromatic structures seem not to be primary products of HBCD decomposition, and may only be obtained by secondary bromination reactions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0951-4198
1097-0231
DOI:10.1002/rcm.281