GC/MS Identification of Pyrolysis Products from 1,2-Bis(2,4,6-Tribromophenoxy)ethane

Abstract

Despite the large amount of work carried out for the identification of pyrolytic products of fire retardant polymers, there is still lack of reliable MS data on halogenated substances. The development of toxic halogenated products mostly occurs during the process of pyrolysis, burning or recycling and they originate from the use of halogenated fire retardants. 1,2-Bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane is a common fire retardant used in acrylonitrile– butadiene–styrene terpolymers for computer housing. Its pyrolysis products (brominated vinyl phenyl ethers, brominated alkyl phenyl ethers, brominated diaryl ethers, polybrominated dibenzodioxins) from a 340 C pyrolysis have been identified by GC/MS and their mass spectra are presented and discussed. A mechanism accounting for the formation of the products is proposed.

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