title: Headspace sorptive extraction for the detection of combustion accelerants in fire debris.
abstract: A novel method for separation and identification of ignitable liquid residues in fire debris by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry is presented. Preconcentration of the analytes was carried out using the simple headspace sorptive extraction (HSSE) technique. Polydimethylsiloxane stir bars were used as the enrichment phase, and parameters affecting both the adsorption and desorption stages were carefully optimized. Extraction was carried out at 50°C for 1h. Stir bars were desorbed thermally in the GC injection port, thus avoiding the use of organic solvents. The results for five ignitable liquids, including gasoline and diesel fuel, using HSSE were compared with those obtained with a solid-phase microextraction method, with HSSE appearing as a more sensitive alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cacho
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Campillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aliste
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia E-30100, Spain. Electronic address: hcordoba@um.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Córdoba
keywords: Combustion accelerants; Fire debris; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS); Headspace sorptive extraction (HSSE); Ignitable liquid residues