Premium
The Effect of Microbial Degradation on the Chromatographic Profiles of Tiki Torch Fuel, Lamp Oil, and Turpentine * ,†
Author(s) -
Turner Dee A.,
Goodpaster John V.
Publication year - 2011
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.1556-4029.2011.01749.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , chromatography , turpentine , degradation (telecommunications) , dichloromethane , elution , pentane , biodegradation , environmental chemistry , solvent , organic chemistry , telecommunications , computer science
Biodegradation can result in selective removal of many of the compounds required for the identification of an ignitable liquid. In this study, the effects of microbial degradation on tiki torch fuel, lamp oil, and turpentine are reported. Samples of soil spiked with 20 μL of the liquids were stored at room temperature for up to 7 days. The ignitable liquids were then recovered using passive headspace concentration onto charcoal strips followed by solvent elution using pentane. Microbial degradation of tiki torch fuel resulted in the loss of the n‐alkanes relative to the branched alkanes. Changes in the profile of the lamp oil were minor due to the highly branched nature of its alkanes. Microbial degradation of turpentine resulted in the selective loss of limonene and o‐cymene. Overall, significant degradation by microbial action could result in the inability to identify the presence of an ignitable liquid or misclassify the ignitable liquid found.