title: The use of vapour phase ultra-violet spectroscopy for the analysis of arson accelerants in fire scene debris.
abstract: A method has been developed for the analysis of arson accelerants in fire scene debris by vapour phase ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy. The method is rapid, inexpensive, simple to use and is sufficiently sensitive and discriminating to be of use for the analysis of crime scene samples. Application to casework samples is described. On occasion, the method offers additional information to that which can be obtained by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and represents a useful adjunct to these techniques. In addition, the method offers advantages where the use of GC-MS analysis of arson accelerants in fire scene debris is not a practical proposition.
authors.affiliation: Indianapolis--Marion County Forensic Services Agency, 40 South Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCurdy
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atwell
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D005390:Fires; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000032:analysis; D010232:Paraffin / Q000032:analysis; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014835:Volatilization; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005648:Fuel Oils; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D010578:Petroleum; D014992:Xylenes; D010232:Paraffin