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Evaluation of Internal Standards for the Analysis of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris
Author(s) -
Locke Amanda K.,
Basara Gene J.,
Sandercock P. Mark L.
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1556-4029.2008.00954.x
Subject(s) - toluene , chlorobenzene , pyrolysis , naphthalene , carbon disulfide , extraction (chemistry) , tetrachloroethylene , chemistry , styrene , environmental chemistry , gas chromatography , chromatography , trichloroethylene , organic chemistry , polymer , copolymer , catalysis
An evaluation of eight compounds for use as an internal standard in fire debris analysis was conducted. Tests were conducted on tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene, n‐octylbenzene, 3‐phenyltolune, and deuterated compounds toluene‐d8, styrene‐d8, naphthalene‐d8, and diphenyl‐d10 to measure the extraction efficiency of each compound in the presence of an interfering volatile compound (carbon disulfide). Other tests were conducted to evaluate whether or not the presence of an ignitable liquid or pyrolysis/combustion products from fire debris would interfere with the identification of these compounds when used as an internal standard. The results showed that while any of the eight compounds could be used as an internal standard in fire debris analysis, the more volatile compounds (toluene‐d8, tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene, and styrene‐d8) showed better extraction efficiencies at room temperature than when heated to 60°C. Each of the less volatile compounds (naphthalene‐d8, diphenyl‐d10, n‐octylbenzene, and 3‐phenyltolune) performed well during extraction at 60°C, while naphthalene‐d8 showed better extraction efficiency in the presence of competing volatiles when extracted at room temperature.