Mass Chromatographic Analysis of Arson Accelerants

• NCJ Number: 88580
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1983) Pages: 318-329
• Author(s): R M Smith
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented in part at the fall meeting of the Midwest Association of Forensic Scientists held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 9-10 October 1980.

Annotation

We have developed a method for analyzing arson accelerants by computerized capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in which the data produced is subjected to mass chromatography for sums of up to four ions at a time.

Abstract

Ions were chosen to represent major hydrocarbon families normally present in common arson accelerants and included m/z 57 + 71 + 85 + 99 (aliphatics), 55 + 69 + 83 + 97 (alicyclics and olefinics), 91 + 105 + 119 + 133 (alkylbenzenes), 104 + 118 + 132 + 146 (alkystyrenes/ alkyldihydroindenes), 128 + 142 + 156 + 170 (alkylnapthalenes), 178 + 192 + 206 (alkylanthracenes), and 93 + 136 (monoterpenes). Further mass chromatography for individual molecular ions often identified single components. Crude quantitative data were obtained from ion current measurements provided with the mass chromatograms by the data system. The range and pattern of aliphatic compounds, ratio of aliphatics to alicyclics (olefinics), relative concentrations of alkylbenezenes and alkynaphthalenes, and presence or absence of unusual hydrocarbon families were found to distinguish between an assortment of standard accelerants and their evaporated residues. (Author abstract)