DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PETROLEUM BASED ACCELERANTS IN FIREDEBRIS BY HPLC

A reverse phase HPLC method has been developed for the detection and c haracterisation of fire accelerants, viz :, petrol (gasoline), kerosen e, diesel fuel and their residues, generally encountered in investigat ions of suspected arson cases. Methanolic solutions of these petroleum products and their residues were analysed on HPLC using C-18 reverse phase column. Mobile phase of Acetonitrile: Water (8:2) at the flow ra te of 1 ml/min and UV absorption detection at 275 nm and 285 nm were u sed. The UV detector at 275 nm and 285 nm gives specificity to detecti on, as the alkyl naphthalenes (aromatics) predominantly present in the se petroleum products/residues have strong, characteristic absorption around 275 and 285 nm. Characteristic patterns of chromatograms couple d with intrachromatographic peak height ratios, generated amongst the peaks of naphthalene, 2-methyl-naphthalene and 2,6-dimethyl-naphthalen e identified in the chromatograms of the petroleum products/residues i n question, further adds to the specificity of analysis.