Sample preparation for the analysis of fire debris - Past and present

Identification of ignitable liquids from fire debris is such a major part of an arson investigation that much time and effort has gone into advancing sample preparation techniques to capture complicated and unexpected hydrocarbon compounds. Advancements in sample preparation have been made in order to account for biodegradation of commonly used accelerants, rarely encountered compounds, such as vegetable oils, biodiesel, and alcohols. Improvements have also been made to manage interference from the sample matrix, particularly with regards to new materials. This paper is a review of the sample preparation techniques that are foundational to fire debris analysis as well as recent advances. Also explored are modifications to the traditional sample preparation methods to accommodate the analysis of environmental samples (soil and water), and the presence of vegetable oils and biofuels on the fire scene.