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Original Articles

Sample Preparation for the Analysis of Water Soluble Accelerants in Fire Debris

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Pages 7-12 | Published online: 22 Nov 2013
 

ABSTRACT

Information on the chemical analysis of water soluble accelerants such as ethanol and acetone is sparse. It appears that only a few laboratories routinely assess fire debris samples for such ignitable liquids. We have evaluated the currently available analytical methodology for these types of compounds. Direct heated headspace, passive headspace enrichment by Diffusive Flammable Liquid Extraction (DFLEX®) and adsorption onto a Carboxen® based Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) fiber are suitable methods. A newly developed micro-distillation procedure used in conjunction with SPME methodology appears to be particularly simple and promising.

RÉSUMÉ

L'information concernant l'analyse chimique des activateurs solubles dans l'eau tels que l'éthanol et l'acétone est peu abondante. Il semble que quelques laboratoires seulement examinent de façon systématique les échantillons de débris d'incendie afin de détecter la présence de tels liquides inflammables. Nous avons évalué la méthodologie analytique actuellement disponible pour ces types de composés. L'espace de tête chauffée, la concentration d'espace de tête passive par extraction diffusive de liquide inflammable (“DFLEX®”) ainsi que l'adsorption sur une fibre à micro extraction à phase solide (“SPME”) basée sur le “Carboxen®” sont des méthodes adéquates. Une procédure de micro-distillation nouvellement développée utilisée avec une méthodologie de “SPME” semble particulièrement simple et prometteuse.

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