HTC-19 Insights: Practical Considerations for Using Pyr-GC×GC to Study Fluoropolymer Degradation

At HTC-19 in Leuven, Belgium, LCGC International spoke to Melissa N. Dunkle on her presentation Evaluation of the Degradation of Fluoropolymers Using Pyr-GC×GC, which investigated the transformation of fluoropolymers during pyrolysis and its relevance to plastic chemical recycling.

In this episode, Dunkle answered the following questions:

• Fluoropolymers can generate highly reactive and corrosive species during pyrolysis. What specific considerations were necessary for inlet design, transfer lines, column selection, or detector compatibility to ensure reliable long-term chromatographic performance?

• How feasible is the quantitative monitoring of trace fluorinated pyrolysis products in highly complex mixed plastic waste streams?

• · Do you see Pyr-GC×GC evolving into a routine screening tool for PFAS-related contamination in chemical recycling facilities, or is the technique currently better suited for mechanistic and research-focused investigations?

In her presentation at HTC-19, Melissa explored the challenges associated with recycling complex plastic waste streams, particularly the potential presence of persistent contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Selected fluoropolymers were subjected to pyrolysis coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (Pyr-GC×GC) to characterize the resulting degradation products, including both fluorinated compounds and hydrocarbon species.

The results showed that fluoropolymer degradation followed radical-driven pathways, producing volatile fluorinated compounds and complex mixtures of unsaturated hydrocarbons. These experimental findings were consistent with kinetic model predictions and provided important insights into the behavior of fluoropolymers during thermal treatment.

The presentation highlighted the importance of advanced analytical techniques, such as Py-GC×GC, for monitoring PFAS-related compounds and supporting safer, more sustainable approaches to achieving a circular plastics economy.

View the full interview series here:

The Rise of Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography

The Benefits of Multidimensional Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography (Pyr-GC×GC) To Investigate Fluoropolymer Degradation

Practical Considerations for Using Pyr-GC×GC to Study Fluoropolymer Degradation

Reference

1. Dunkel M.D Evaluation of the Degradation of Fluoropolymers Using Pyr-GC×GC Presented at HTC-19 2026, in Leuven, Belgium. https://htc-19.com/programme/( accessed 2026-07-04).

Biography

Melissa Dunkle is currently a Senior Research Scientist at Dow Benelux BV located in Terneuzen, The Netherlands, where she leads research as part of the Circular & Renewable Solutions team within Hydrocarbons R&D. With a Ph.D. in Analytical Science from the University at Buffalo and a B.S. in Chemistry from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Melissa has built a distinguished career in advanced analytical chemistry and sustainable materials innovation. Her research focuses on developing cutting-edge analytical techniques to support the circular economy for plastics, particularly through the characterization and optimization of pyrolysis oils and recycled hydrocarbon feedstocks.