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oa PY-GC×GC-TOFMS: A POTENTIAL TOOL FOR THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FOSSIL BIOPOLYMERS
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 30th International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry (IMOG 2021), Sep 2021, Volume 2021, p.1 - 2
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in the preservation of nitrogen-bearing biopolymers in organic remains from deep time, reflected by the increase in reports of such preservation. However, there has also been controversy regarding the veracity of these reports. Here, we propose a method to independently characterize the molecular structure of various biomacromolecules, by using pyrolysis comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Py-GC×GC-TOFMS). We initially analyze G. Prisca, Tasmanites and fossil resin to demonstrate efficacy of this technique. We then analyze industry standards of chitin, collagen and fossil melanin to identify characteristic compound distributions and to distinguish between the three nitrogen-bearing biomacromolecules. We then apply the technique to an Eocene mammal bone.
