IDENTIFICATION OF PETROLEUM DISTILLATES FROM FIRE DEBRIS USING MULTIDIMENSIONAL GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A method for identifying petroleum distillates (accelerants) in fire d ebris samples by dynamic headspace analysis and multidimensional gas c hromatography is described. The method relies on the separation of tar get compounds characteristic of different petroleum distillate classes from interfering co-eluting and matrix components. A relatively nonpo lar column is used to characterize the volatility distribution of the sample and heartcutting to a second polar column of certain fractions to separate target compounds from interferences unresolved on the firs t column. The method is demonstrated for the identification of gasolin e, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, and paint thinners in simulated a rson samples.