Citation

Kwon M, Hong S, Choi H. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 2003; 36(4): 197-205.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.2003.10757561

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Highly volatile accelerants such as alcohols and low molecular weight organic solvents diffuse in the air rather than remain in the fire debris at a fire scene. Therefore, these components are not effectively recovered by sampling methods used to analyze the debris recovered from the fire scene. This study examined the effectiveness of air sampling at the fire scene using a portable air pump to collect highly volatile ignitable liquids used as accelerants. This was done by comparing the air sampling method with dynamic headspace sampling and solid phase microextraction (SPME) methods, which are widely used for isolation and sampling of fire debris. Air sampling was performed by adsorption of accelerants on a stainless tube filled with Tenax TA and Carbopack B. The results showed that highly volatile components were more efficiently collected through air sampling when compared with either dynamic headspace or SPME.