@article{ref1,
title="Degradation of gasoline, barbecue starter fluid, and diesel fuel by microbial action in soil",
journal="Journal (Canadian Society of Forensic Science)",
year="2001",
author="Chalmers, D. and Yan, Sam X. and Cassista, A. and Hrynchuk, R. and Sandercock, P. M. L.",
volume="34",
number="2",
pages="49-62",
abstract="The effects of microbial action on the chromatographic profile of automotive gasoline, barbecue starter fluid, and diesel fuel in soil have been studied. Soil samples were injected with 3 different types of petroleum products including 5 brand name automotive gasolines, barbecue starter fluid, and diesel fuel. Injected soil samples were sealed in 1 L Mason jars and subsequently analyzed after 2, 4, 7, and 14 days using a passive headspace charcoal adsorption/elution method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resulting gas chromatograms were compared to time-zero profiles and showed varying amounts of microbial degradation. The majority of the degradation occurred between 7 and 14 days, and targeted n-alkane and mono-substituted aromatic components before poly-substituted aromatic or substituted aliphatic components in all trials. Implications for fire debris analysis in forensic laboratories are discussed.<p />",
language="en",
issn="0008-5030",
doi="10.1080/00085030.2001.10757517",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00085030.2001.10757517"
}