NCJ Number
138362
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: (April/June 1992) Pages: 131-142
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Describes a technique of fire debris analysis for traces of accelerant in suspected arson investigations that uses a relatively inexpensive mass spectrometer of recent design.
Abstract
The sample of fire debris consisted of burned wood, plywood, and sawdust derived from a fire in which no accelerants were used. A simulated arson sample was obtained by spiking the fire debris with leaded petrol. Fire debris was analyzed using dynamic headspace enrichment and thermal elution of adsorbed volatiles. Specifically, a concentrated extract of the adsorbate was analyzed on a capillary column gas chromatograph coupled to an ion trap detector, which generated a total ion current chromatogram of the sample. The presence of accelerant in the adsorbate could be readily determined by inspecting a series of mass chromatograms, replotted from the total ion current chromatogram and corresponding to ions of specific masses that were characteristic of the accelerant used. Mass chromatograms collectively defined the accelerant profile. It was determined that such a profile can be distinguished from accompanying background contributions even in samples having significant matrix interferences. 5 references, 1 table, and 6 figures