1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes the procedure for removing small quantities of ignitable liquid residues from samples of fire debris. An adsorbent material is used to extract the residue from the static headspace above the sample. Then, analytes are thermally desorbed in the injection port of the gas chromatograph (GC).

1.2 This practice is best suited for screening fire debris samples to assess relative ignitable liquid concentration and for extracting ignitable liquid from aqueous samples.

1.3 This practice is suitable for extracting ignitable liquid residues when a high level of sensitivity is required due to a very low concentration of ignitable liquid residues in the sample.

1.3.1 Unlike other methods of separation and concentration, this method recovers a minimal amount of the ignitable residues present in the evidence, leaving residues that are suitable for subsequent resampling.

1.4 Alternate separation and concentration procedures are listed in Section 2.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

E1385 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Steam Distillation

E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction

E1387 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography

E1388 Practice for Sampling of Headspace Vapors from Fire Debris Samples

E1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration With Activated Charcoal

E1413 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration

E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory

E1618 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Keywords

fire debris samples; passive headspace concentration; solid phase microextraction (SPME); Concentration (of elements); Fire debris samples; Gas chromatography (GC); Ignitable liquid residues; Passive headspace analysis; Residue; Separation processing/analysis; SPME (solid phase microextraction);

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 27.060.10 (Liquid and solid fuel burners)

DOI: 10.1520/E2154-01

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.