Forensic Analysis of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

2002 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Frysinger ◽  
R. Gaines
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Forensic Analysis ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
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.

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.

scholarly journals Detection and Characterization of Ignitable Liquid Residues in Forensic Fire Debris Samples by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Separations ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andjoe Sampat ◽  
Brenda van Daelen ◽  
Martin Lopatka ◽  
Hans Mol ◽  
Guido van der Weg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
False Positive Rate ◽  
White Spirit ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Compound Identification ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Ignitable Liquids ◽  
Fire Debris ◽  
Lamp Oil

This study covers an extensive experimental design that was developed for creating simulated fire debris samples under controlled conditions for the detection and identification of ignitable liquids (IL) residues. This design included 19 different substrates, 45 substrate combinations with and without ignitable liquids, and 45 different ILs from three classes (i.e., white spirit, gasoline, and lamp oil). Chemical analysis was performed with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) for improved separation and compound identification. The enhanced peak capacity offered by GC×GC-TOFMS allowed the use of a target compound list in combination with a simple binary decision model to arrive at quite acceptable results with respect to IL detection (89% true positive and 7% false positive rate) and classification (100% correct white spirit, 79% correct gasoline, and 77% correct lamp oil assignment). Although these results were obtained in a limited set of laboratory controlled fire experiments including only three IL classes, this study confirms the conclusions of other studies that GC×GC-TOFMS can be a powerful tool in the challenging task of forensic fire debris analysis.

Towards chemical profiling of ignitable liquids with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography: Exploring forensic application to neat white spirits

2016 ◽  
Vol 267 ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andjoe A.S. Sampat ◽  
Martin Lopatka ◽  
Gabriel Vivó-Truyols ◽  
Peter J. Schoenmakers ◽  
Arian C. van Asten
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Forensic Application ◽  
Chemical Profiling ◽  
Ignitable Liquids

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

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
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