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Comprehensive Sample Preparation Scheme for Accelerants in Suspect Arson Cases

NCJ Number
183372
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 504-515
Author(s)
Qiulei Ren B.S.; Wolfgang Bertsch Ph.D.
Date Published
May 1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This is a critical comparison of adsorbent-based heated headspace methods for the enrichment of volatiles from fire debris.
Abstract
The study compared a dynamic and a static method, based on charcoal adsorption and solvent extraction, to the Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) procedure. The SPME method was optimized in respect to fiber type, sampling time, sampling temperature, analyte concentration and the effects of water. Collection efficiencies were evaluated for a variety of accelerant types, ranging from methanol to diesel fuel. The minimum detectable quantity for each of the methods was within an order of magnitude for most accelerant types. The study proposed a two-step method based on SPME with two different fibers. Polar and water soluble accelerants such as ethanol and light petroleum distillates were most effectively enriched at low temperature on Carboxen, a newly developed high capacity fiber that contains a carbon-based adsorbent. Low volatility accelerants such as diesel fuel could be recovered on a methylpolysiloxane-type fiber at elevated temperature. The article discusses limitations of currently used sample preparation methods. Tables, figures, references

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