Citation

Yip IHL, Clair EG. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 1976; 9(2): 75-80.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.1976.10757248

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A system has been developed for the identification of trace amounts of petroleum products from the debris of fires using a Bentone 34 + Di-isodecylphthalate (DIDP) column. Samples were obtained in the vapour state by the following three methods: 1) Headspace sampling at room temperature. 2) Headspace sampling after heating in an oven. 3) Sampling from the condenser during distillation. Gasoline and naphtha can be readily differentiated from other accelerants and contaminants. A large percentage of arson cases require no further examination than the oven heating method followed by G.C. analysis.