Glass capillary gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry at high temperatures. direct analysis of free base porphyrins and metal porphyrin complexes extracted from the serpiano oil shale

This contribution describes GC/MS analysis of natural petroporphyrin extracts containing alkylporphyrins either as vanadyl complexes or as demetalated free bases. The combination of high temperature glass capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometry allows, for the first time, direct determination of electron impact mass spectra of separated alkylporphyrins, making additional purification and derivatization unnecessary. The separation is carried out on glass capillary columns coated with the high temperature‐stable medium polar, OH‐terminated, polysiloxane phases PS 086 and OV‐225‐OH. The paper gives detailed working directions for the preparation of the high temperature GC/MS‐interface, and of the high temperature stable OV‐225‐OH columns (max. working temperature 390°C).