ASTM E2451-21

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of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2451 − 13 E2451 − 21
Standard Practice for
Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue
Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2451; 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
1.1 This practice describesstandard covers procedures for preserving residuesthe preservation of ignitable liquids in and ignitable
liquid residue extracts obtained from fire debris samples and questioned ignitable liquid samples. Extraction procedures are
described in theSection 2, Referenced Documents.
1.2 This practice does not attempt to address all the issues regarding the short-term or long-termSpecific evaluation of this practice
is limited to the preservation of gasoline and diesel fuel storage(1-4), of ignitable liquid samples and ignitable liquid extracts from
fire debris samples. The changes that may occur under various storage conditions have not been fully documented.the components
of which together span the range of chemical classes and volatility of ignitable liquid residues commonly encountered in fire debris
samples.
1.3 This practice cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and
should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
E1388 Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of 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 of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration
onto an Adsorbent Tube
This practice 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, 2013Sept. 1, 2021. Published July 2013October 2021. Originally approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 20082013 as E2451
– 08.13. DOI: 10.1520/E2451-13.10.1520/E2451-21.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this standard.
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
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E2451 − 21
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
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
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace
Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)
E3189 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Static Headspace Concentration onto
an Adsorbent Tube
E3197 Terminology Relating to Examination of Fire Debris
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminologies E1732 and E3197.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 Extracts obtained from fire debris samples and questioned liquids analyzed for the presence of ignitable liquid residues are
retained and preserved liquid samples are preserved and stored as evidence, which also allows for potential reanalysis byusing Test
Method E1618.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The archiving preservation and storage of extracts recovered from fire debris or liquids submitted in a fire investigation
provides a mechanism to preserve extracts and liquids for reanalysis in the event that sample loss, sample the original evidence
is altered due to factors such as the extraction process (Practices E1386 and E1413), sample degradation, or failure of the fire
debrisoriginal evidence container occurs during post-analysis storage of fire debris evidence.storage.
4.2 The nature of some extraction procedures, which may preclude reanalysis, is considered.
5.2 Changes toReanalysis of a preserved sample extract and the length of timestored sample extract could result in data that do
not duplicate the data obtained during the initial analysis. Loss of the more volatile components of a stored sample can occur, and
this possibility should be considered when interpreting data from a stored sample. Studies of gasoline and diesel show that results
(that is, determination of presence and classification of an ignitable liquid, or determination of absence of an ignitable liquid)
obtained from reanalysis data are in agreement with the initial analytical results. it (1-4remains )viable under storage conditions
are unknown.
5.3 The concentration and composition of the ignitable liquid residue or the use of an alternate extraction/concentration technique
used to preserve a sample extract of the fire debris sample may result in different findings between the analysis of the preserved
sample and the original analysis.Preserved extracts are either returned to the submitter for storage or catalogued and stored by the
laboratory or other designee.
6. Materials
6.1 Airtight and Vapor-Tight, Volatile-Free Storage Containers—Preservation Container—The following are suggested container
types: Preservation containers are tightly sealed, volatile-free, and chemically inert to the sample. An example of a suitable
preservation container is a crimp-top glass vial with intact polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lined seal.
5.1.1 Septum crimp vials with PTFE-lined seals.
5.1.2 Screw cap glass vials with PTFE-lined seals.
5.1.3 Polymer evidence bags (this does not include polyethylene or polypropylene-type containers).
6.2 Adsorption Media: Media—
5.2.1 Activated charcoal (coconut).Activated charcoal strips or loose activated carbon or equivalent.
E2451 − 21
5.2.2 Activated charcoal strips.
7. Procedure
7.1 Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal
(Practice E1412).):
6.1.1 Single-Strip Adsorption:
6.1.1.1 After analysis, the eluted and analyzed extract may be retained for preservation. Readsorb the extract onto the charcoal
strip by allowing the eluent to evaporate. Store the charcoal strip in an appropriate container for preservation.
6.1.1.2 Alternatively, after adsorption and before elution, divide the strip. Use one portion of the strip for analysis. Place the
remaining portion in an appropriate container for preservation.
7.1.1 Two-StripAdsorbent-Strip Adsorption:
7.1.1.1 Activated charcoal strips are utilized either in their entirety, or they are divided before or after adsorption, but prior to
elution.
7.1.1.2 If a single strip, or a single portion of a strip, is utilized, after analysis, preserve the extract by adsorbing it onto adsorption
media (original or new) via solvent e
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