ASTM E1618-06

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Designation: E 1618 – 06
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 E 1618; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E 1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concen-
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of
tration With Activated Charcoal
ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extrac-
E 1413 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
tion procedures are described in the referenced documents.
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dy-
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it
namic Headspace Concentration
is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high back-
E 2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
ground levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis products.This
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive
guide is also suitable for the identification of single com-
Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextrac-
pounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable
tion (SPME)
liquids.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3. Summary of Test Method
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1 The sample is analyzed with a gas chromatograph (GC)
only.
which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and a data
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
system (DS) capable of storing and manipulating chromato-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
graphic and mass spectral data.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2 Post-run data analysis generates extracted ion profiles
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
(mass chromatograms) characteristic of the chemical com-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
poundtypescommonlyfoundinignitableliquids.Additionally,
2. Referenced Documents specific chemical components (target compounds) may be
2
identified by their mass spectra and retention times. Semi-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
quantitative determination of target compounds which are
E 1385 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
identified by mass spectra and retention time may be used to
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Steam
develop target compound chromatograms (TCCs).
Distillation
3.2.1 The total ion chromatogram (TIC), extracted ion
E 1386 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
profiles(EIP)forthealkane,alkene,alcohol,aromatic,cycloal-
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent
kane, ester, ketone and polynuclear aromatic compound types,
Extraction
or target compound chromatograms (TCC), or combination
E 1387 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Ex-
thereof, are evaluated by visual pattern matching against
tracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography
known reference ignitable liquids.
E 1388 Practice for Sampling of Headspace Vapors from
3.2.2 Ignitable liquids may be grouped into one of seven
Fire Debris Samples
major classifications or one miscellaneous class, as described
in this test method.
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ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE30onForensic
4. Significance and Use
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originally
4.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E 1618 – 01.
2
samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator’s
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
of the fire.
the ASTM website.
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E1618–06
4.1.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in a 5.4.2 For gas samples, a gas-tight syringe capable of
fire scene does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that a fire reproducibly introducing sample sizes in the range of 0.5 to 5
was incendiary in nature. Further investigation may reveal a mL.
legitimate reason for the presence of ignitable li
...