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Evaluation of a Headspace Solid‐Phase Microextraction Method for the Analysis of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris
Author(s) -
Fettig Ina,
Krüger Simone,
Deubel Jan H.,
Werrel Martin,
Raspe Tina,
Piechotta Christian
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12342
Subject(s) - solid phase microextraction , chromatography , diesel fuel , debris , mass spectrometry , sorbent , gasoline , materials science , gas chromatography , extraction (chemistry) , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , chemistry , adsorption , organic chemistry , geology , oceanography
The chemical analysis of fire debris represents a crucial part in fire investigations to determine the cause of a fire. A headspace solid‐phase microextraction ( HS ‐ SPME ) procedure for the detection of ignitable liquids in fire debris using a fiber coated with a mixture of three different sorbent materials ( D ivinylbenzene/ C arboxen/ P olydimethylsiloxane, DVB / CAR / PDMS ) is described. Gasoline and diesel fuel were spiked upon a preburnt matrix (wood charcoal), extracted and concentrated with HS ‐ SPME and then analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry ( GC / MS ). The experimental conditions—extraction temperature, incubation and exposure time—were optimized. To assess the applicability of the method, fire debris samples were prepared in the smoke density chamber ( SDC ) and a controlled‐atmosphere cone calorimeter. The developed methods were successfully applied to burnt particleboard and carpet samples. The results demonstrate that the procedure that has been developed here is suitable for detecting these ignitable liquids in highly burnt debris.