THE RECOVERY OF ACCELERANTS IN AQUEOUS SAMPLES FROM FIRE DEBRIS USINGSOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION (SPME)

A popular method for the recovery of flammable and combustible liquid residues from fire debris is passive headspace concentration using act ivated charcoal strips (ACS) for the adsorption of the Liquid residues followed by elution with carbon disulfide or other suitable solvent. In comparison to the ACS extraction, the adaptation of SPME to the hea dspace concentration of these residues from fire debris eliminates the use of solvents, decreases the time needed for analysis and raises th e sensitivity of the extraction. Presently, we report the use of SPME for the rapid extraction of accelerants in aqueous solutions from fire debris requiring minimal sample handling. Extremely low quantities of pocket lighter fluid, gasoline and diesel fuel were directly extracte d by SPME and their resulting gas chromatograms were accurately identi fied.