ASTM E1618-10
(Guide)Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator's opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature of the fire.
The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in a fire scene does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that a fire was incendiary in nature. Further investigation may reveal a legitimate reason for the presence of ignitable liquid residues.
Because of the volatility of ignitable liquids and variations in sampling techniques, the absence of detectable quantities of ignitable liquid residues does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that ignitable liquids were not present at the fire scene.
Materials normally found in a building, upon exposure to the heat of a fire, will form pyrolysis and combustion products. Extracted ion profiling and target compound identification techniques described herein may facilitate the identification of an ignitable liquid in the extract by reducing interference by components generated as products of pyrolysis.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extraction procedures are described in the referenced documents.
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high background levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combustion products. This test method is also suitable for the identification of single compounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable liquids.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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.
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Designation: E1618 – 10
Standard Test Method for
Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris
1
Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1618; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope namic Headspace Concentration
E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive
ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extrac-
Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextrac-
tion procedures are described in the referenced documents.
tion (SPME)
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it
E2451 Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignit-
is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high back-
able Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
ground levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combus-
tion products. This test method is also suitable for the identi-
3. Summary of Test Method
fication of single compounds, simple mixtures, or non-
3.1 The sample is analyzed with a gas chromatograph (GC)
petroleum based ignitable liquids.
which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and a data
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
system (DS) capable of storing and manipulating chromato-
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
graphic and mass spectral data.
standard.
3.2 Post-run data analysis generates extracted ion profiles
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(mass chromatograms) characteristic of the chemical com-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
poundtypescommonlyfoundinignitableliquids.Additionally,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specific chemical components (target compounds) may be
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
identified by their mass spectra and retention times. Semi-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
quantitative determination of target compounds which are
2. Referenced Documents identified by mass spectra and retention time may be used to
2
develop target compound chromatograms (TCCs).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.1 The total ion chromatogram (TIC), extracted ion
E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
profiles(EIP)forthealkane,alkene,alcohol,aromatic,cycloal-
from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
kane, ester, ketone and polynuclear aromatic compound types,
E1388 Practice for Sampling of Headspace Vapors from
or TCCs, or combination thereof, are evaluated by visual
Fire Debris Samples
pattern matching against known reference ignitable liquids.
E1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
3.2.2 Ignitable liquids may be grouped into one of seven
from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concen-
major classifications or one miscellaneous class, as described
tration With Activated Charcoal
in this test method.
E1413 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dy-
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE30onForensic
samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator’s
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally
´1
of the fire.
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E1618 – 06 . DOI:
10.1520/E1618-10.
4.1.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in a
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
fire scene does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that a fire
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
was incendiary in nature. Further investigation may reveal a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
legitimate reason for the presence of ignitable liquid residues.
the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E1618 – 10
4.1.2 Because of the volatility of ignitable liquids and intended that all reagents conform to the specifications of the
variations in sampling techniques, the absence of detectable Committee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chem
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation:E1618–06 Designation: E1618 – 10
Standard Test Method for
Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris
1
Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1618; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
´ NOTE—Editorial changes were made in November 2006.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extraction
procedures are described in the referenced documents.
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high background
levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combustion products. This test method is also suitable for the identification of single
compounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable liquids.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parenthesesNo other units of
measurement are for information only. included in this standard.
1.4 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1385Practice 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
E1387Test 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
E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace
Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid
Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)
E2451 Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 The sample is analyzed with a gas chromatograph (GC) which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and a data system
(DS) capable of storing and manipulating chromatographic and mass spectral data.
3.2 Post-rundataanalysisgeneratesextractedionprofiles(masschromatograms)characteristicofthechemicalcompoundtypes
commonly found in ignitable liquids. Additionally, specific chemical components (target compounds) may be identified by their
mass spectra and retention times. Semi-quantitative determination of target compounds which are identified by mass spectra and
retention time may be used to develop target compound chromatograms (TCCs).
3.2.1 The total ion chromatogram (TIC), extracted ion profiles (EIP) for the alkane, alkene, alcohol, aromatic, cycloalkane,
ester,ketoneandpolynucleararomaticcompoundtypes,ortargetcompoundchromatograms(TCC),TCCs,orcombinationthereof,
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E1618–01. DOI:
10.1520/E1618-06E01.
´1
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E1618 – 06 . DOI:
10.1520/E1618-10.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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