US EPA

1485855 

Journal Article 

An accelerant classification scheme based on analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) 

Nowicki, J 

1990 

Yes 

Journal of Forensic Sciences
ISSN: 0022-1198
EISSN: 1556-4029 

BIOSIS/91/31940 

35 

5 

1064-1086 

eng 

BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using iron chromatography profiling allows the arson examiner to gather information about the chemical nature of the hydrocarbons present in a fire debris sample. Fragment ions have been identified that provide specific analyses for alkanes, cycloparaffins, aromatics, naphthalenes, and dihydroindenes. An accelerant classification scheme currently used only classifies accelerants by their boiling point ranges into light, medium, and heavy petroleum distillates and gasoline. Many flammable liquids do not properly fall into one of these categories. An expanded accelerant classification scheme that takes into account the chemical nautre of the accelerant, in addition to its boiling point range, is described here. 

General Biology-Forensic Science; Biochemical Methods-General; Biochemical Studies-General; Biophysics-General Biophysical Techniques; Toxicology-General