Here we demonstrate simultaneous analysis of evolved gases by thermogravimetry (TG) coupled with Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and correlate the weight losses with water, CO₂ and other possible gaseous products evolved during progressive thermal degradation of shells of various mollusc species (gastropods and bivalves) in an inert atmosphere. Subsequent interpretation of the functional groups present in the sea shells is carried out. Our study infers that the water molecules and to some extent CO₂ are continuously getting emitted during progressive thermal degradation of sea shells during stage-I with just about 1–2% weight loss. No peaks related to amides, carboxylic acid functionality or thermal degradation products thereof are observed during this stage. These degraded products are either from associated water and non-mineral carbonate species or from low molecular weight biomacromolecules. This, contrary to usually accepted data, shows organic matrix (mixture of organic components/proteins) do not degrade completely in the first step (lower temperature), indicating their presence with strong bonding in inter-platelet regions and also probably in the crystal lattice of mineral phase and reveals greater thermal stability of the organic matrix in mollusc shells. Our findings enable previous studies, both quantitative and qualitative, to be re-evaluated resulting in a more consistent and inclusive view of organic matrices and water with potential implications in biomineralization processes.

在这里，我们展示了通过热重 (TG) 结合傅里叶变换红外 (FTIR) 光谱法对逸出气体的同时分析，并将重量损失与水、CO ₂和其他可能在各种软体动物壳的逐步热降解过程中逸出的气体产物相关联（腹足类和双壳类）在惰性气氛中。随后对存在于海贝壳中的官能团进行了解释。我们的研究推断水分子和某种程度上的 CO ₂在第一阶段贝壳的逐步热降解过程中不断排放，重量仅损失约 1-2%。在此阶段没有观察到与酰胺、羧酸官能团或其热降解产物有关的峰。这些降解产物要么来自相关的水和非矿物碳酸盐物质，要么来自低分子量的生物大分子。这与通常接受的数据相反，表明有机基质（有机成分/蛋白质的混合物）在第一步（较低温度）中没有完全降解，表明它们在片间区域和晶格中具有强键合矿物相的变化，并揭示了软体动物壳中有机基质的更高热稳定性。我们的研究结果使以前的研究成为可能，无论是定量的还是定性的，