Pyrolysis—gas chromatography of quaternary ammonium salts in aqueous solution

The pyrolysis of a range of simple quaternary ammonium salts in aqueous solution has been studied by gas chromatographic procedures. The results indicate that the structure of the cation governs the thermal stability and breakdown pattern of the salts, the nature of the anion having no apparent effect on the process. The mechanism of the decomposition is discussed as is the potential of aqueous pyrolysis—gas chromatography for analytical studies of quaternary ammonium salts in general.