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The Effects of Burning and Mold Growth on the Chemical Composition of Firelog Fuels
Author(s) -
Winters Kelsey,
Evans Michelle
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.1111/1556-4029.13080
Subject(s) - wax , sawdust , mold , chemistry , gas chromatography , fuel oil , composition (language) , pulp and paper industry , chromatography , organic chemistry , waste management , materials science , composite material , linguistics , philosophy , engineering
Firelogs consist of a cellulosic material, such as sawdust or wood particles, and a combustible binder (fuel). Historically, the fuel typically consisted of a petroleum‐based (paraffin) wax; however, some manufacturers now include vegetable oils in their firelog fuels. To determine fuel composition, fuels from various brands of firelogs were extracted and analyzed by high‐temperature gas chromatography–mass spectrometry ( HTGC ‐ MS ) and a GC ‐ MS with a polar column specific for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters ( FAME s). Firelogs were also burned, allowed to grow mold, and analyzed by GC ‐ MS to determine the effects that burning and mold growth have on firelog fuel composition. Mold did not tend to preferentially degrade any of the fatty acids. Burning caused a decrease in the relative amount of all of the fatty acids present in the vegetable oil fuel, with a greater effect on unsaturated fatty acids than saturated ones.