Experimental studies on the effect of fire accelerants during living room fires and detection of ignitable liquids in fire debris

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 636-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Krüger ◽  
Jan H. Deubel ◽  
Martin Werrel ◽  
Ina Fettig ◽  
Tina Raspe
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Living Room ◽  
Room Fires ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
In Fire

Novel method based on ion mobility spectrometry sum spectrum for the characterization of ignitable liquids in fire debris

Talanta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
María José Aliaño-González ◽  
Marta Ferreiro-González ◽  
Gerardo F. Barbero ◽  
Miguel Palma
Keyword(s):  
Ion Mobility Spectrometry ◽  
Ion Mobility ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
In Fire

scholarly journals Application of Headspace Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry for the Determination of Ignitable Liquids from Fire Debris

Separations ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Aliaño-González ◽  
Marta Ferreiro-González ◽  
Gerardo Barbero ◽  
Miguel Palma ◽  
Carmelo Barroso
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Ion Mobility Spectrometry ◽  
Ion Mobility ◽  
Headspace Gas Chromatography ◽  
Headspace Gas ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
Ignitable Liquid ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Chemometric Tools

A fast and correct identification of ignitable liquid residues in fire debris investigation is of high importance in forensic research. Advanced fast analytical methods combined with chemometric tools are usually applied for these purposes. In the present study, the Headspace Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with chemometrics is proposed as a promising technique for the identification of ignitable liquid residues in fire debris samples. Fire debris samples were created in the laboratory, according to the Destructive Distillation Method for Burning that is provided by the Bureau of Forensic Fire and Explosives. Four different substrates (pine wood, cork, paper, and cotton sheet) and four ignitable liquids of dissimilar composition (gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and paraffin) were used to create the fire debris. The Total Ion Current (TIC) Chromatogram combined with different chemometric tools (hierarchical cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis) allowed for a full discrimination between samples that were burned with and without ignitable liquids. Additionally, a good identification (95% correct discrimination) for the specific ignitable liquid residues in the samples was achieved. Based on these results, the chromatographic data from HS-GC-IMS have been demonstrated to be very useful for the identification and discrimination of ignitable liquids residues. The main advantages of this approach vs. traditional methodology are that no sample manipulation or solvent is required; it is also faster, cheaper, and easy to use for routine analyses.

Guidance for Identifying Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris

2016 ◽  
pp. 29-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanet Hendrikse ◽  
Michiel Grutters ◽  
Frank Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
In Fire

scholarly journals Determination of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris: Direct Analysis by Electronic Nose

Sensors ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Ferreiro-González ◽  
Gerardo Barbero ◽  
Miguel Palma ◽  
Jesús Ayuso ◽  
José Álvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Nose ◽  
Direct Analysis ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
In Fire

scholarly journals Modern Instrumental Limits of Identification of Ignitable Liquids in Forensic Fire Debris Analysis

Separations ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Abel ◽  
Grzegorz Zadora ◽  
P. Sandercock ◽  
James Harynuk
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Instrumental Performance ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
Fire Debris Analysis ◽  
In Fire

Forensic fire debris analysis is an important part of fire investigation, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the accepted standard for detection of ignitable liquids in fire debris. While GC-MS is the dominant technique, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) is gaining popularity. Despite the broad use of these techniques, their sensitivities are poorly characterized for petroleum-based ignitable liquids. Accordingly, we explored the limit of identification (LOI) using the protocols currently applied in accredited forensic labs for two 75% evaporated gasolines and a 25% evaporated diesel as both neat samples and in the presence of interfering pyrolysate typical of fire debris. GC-MSD (mass selective detector (MS)), GC-TOF (time-of-flight (MS)), and GC×GC-TOF were evaluated under matched conditions to determine the volume of ignitable liquid required on-column for correct identification by three experienced forensic examiners performing chromatographic interpretation in accordance with ASTM E1618-14. GC-MSD provided LOIs of ~0.6 pL on-column for both neat gasolines, and ~12.5 pL on-column for neat diesel. In the presence of pyrolysate, the gasoline LOIs increased to ~6.2 pL on-column, while diesel could not be correctly identified at the concentrations tested. For the neat dilutions, GC-TOF generally provided 2× better sensitivity over GC-MSD, while GC×GC-TOF generally resulted in 10× better sensitivity over GC-MSD. In the presence of pyrolysate, GC-TOF was generally equivalent to GC-MSD, while GC×GC-TOF continued to show 10× greater sensitivity relative to GC-MSD. Our findings demonstrate the superior sensitivity of GC×GC-TOF and provide an important approach for interlaboratory benchmarking of modern instrumental performance in fire debris analysis.

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