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(800) 356-1688
There are additional variableswhich
canmake identificationof thepetro-
leum residuemoredifficult. Included
wouldbe co-extractedvolatiles and
pyrolyzates from the firedebris. The
extent of these co-extracted interfer-
enceswould, inpart, bedependent upon
the samplepreparationmethodused.
TheASTMmethoddoes provide
minimum requirements for class
identification for each typeof acceler-
ant, but in the end the experience of the
analyst is crucial.
WeatheredPetrochemicalAnalytical
ReferenceMaterials
Maybe used for:
• UndergroundStorageTankMonitoring
• ASTM firedebris analysis
Laboratoriesmonitoringunderground storage tanks often find it difficult todetermine
the type of petrochemical detectedduring an analysis. Themain reason for this is the
petroleumproduct hasweathered from exposure to air,water, sunlight, andmicrobial
action.All of these factors can lead tomisidentificationof the original product.
A similar situationoccurs for forensic analysts investigatingpotential arson cases.
When arson is suspected, samples are taken from the site and analyzedusingASTM
E1387methods. In thesemethods, quantitation is not performedbut identificationof
the accelerant (if any) is crucial.Again,weatheringof the petrochemical can
drastically change the chromatographicprofilewhen compared tonon-weathered
material.
Restek is nowoffering as stockproducts,weatheredpetrochemical products tomeet
manyof thesedifficult situations.All of these standards areprepared from commer-
cially acquiredmaterials. Thematerial is thenweathered in the laboratorybased
upon a specificweight loss from the originalweight of startingmaterial.Whilewe
cannot duplicate all environmental or arson factors, these standardsmaybeuseful in
identificationof the typeof petrochemical detected.
ASTME1387
FireDebrisAnalysis
Adequate column resolution is ad-
dressed in this protocol.Any capillary
column canbeusedprovided resolution
of all analytes canbe achieved. To
demonstrateperformance, acolumn
resolution checkmixmust be analyzed
prior to any sample analysis. Listed
below is the required columnperfor-
mancemixture.
E1387Column
ResolutionCheckMix
Contains the compounds listed at
2000µg/ml each inmethylene chloride.
Packaged 1ml per ampul.
decane
octadecane
dodecane
octane
eicosane
tetradecane
2-ethyltoluene toluene
3-ethyltoluene 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene
hexadecane
p-xylene
hexane
cat.#:31224
ea.
31224-500
ea.w/data pk.
31224-510
5-pk.
31224-520
5-pk.w/datapk.
31324
10-pk.w/datapk.
Rtx
®
-1ColumnListing
30m, 0.53mm ID, 1.5µm cat.#10170
30m, 0.32mm ID, 1.0µm cat.#10154
30m, 0.25mm ID, 1.0µm cat.#10153
Adequatechromatographic resolution
canbeobtainedon several different
capillary columns. Typically, thebest
resolution canbeobtainedon anRtx
®
-1
(100%dimethyl polysiloxane) station-
aryphase.Column configuration should
bebasedupon thedetection system
beingused and sample capacity.
Calibrationwithweatheredpetrochemi-
cal standards alsoplays an important
part in identificationof accelerants
extracted from firedebris samples.
❖
References
1) ASTM Standard Practices for Fire
Debris Extraction:
• ASTME1412 Passive
Headspace Concentration
• ASTME1413Dynamic
Headspace Concentration
• ASTME1385 Steam
Distillation Concentration
• ASTME1386 Solvent
Extraction Concentration
• ASTME1388 Sampling of
Headspace Vapors
• ASTME1389Cleanup by
Acid Stripping
