Study of chemical modifications in acidified ignitable liquids analysed by GC-MS

In this work, mixtures of gasoline with sulphuric acid and diesel fuel with sulphuric acid were analysed by gas chromatography&-mass spectrometry (GC&-MS). The results showed considerable qualitative and semi-quantitative modifications in the chromatographic profiles of the ignitable liquids...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martín Alberca, Carlos|||0000-0002-7337-0454, García Ruiz, Carmen|||0000-0001-5925-3449, Delémont, Olivier
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repositorio:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/50169
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/50169
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2015.06.006
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Acidified ignitable liquid
Diesel fuel
Fire investigation
Gasoline
Improvised incendiary device
Molotov cocktail.
Química
Chemistry
Descripción
Sumario:In this work, mixtures of gasoline with sulphuric acid and diesel fuel with sulphuric acid were analysed by gas chromatography&-mass spectrometry (GC&-MS). The results showed considerable qualitative and semi-quantitative modifications in the chromatographic profiles of the ignitable liquids (ILs). In the case of acidified gasoline, the alteration of the abundances of aromatic compounds and the hydrolysis of an oxygenated compound such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), in addition to the immediate and unexpected appearance of tert-butylated compounds were observed. In the case of acidified diesel fuel, the alteration of aromatic compounds occurred. These sequential changes were then studied in detail in order to explain the chemical modifications taking place. These extensive chemical modifications may be considered as a new chromatographic profile distortion effect, the acidification of ILs. As such modifications are not generally taken into account in the criteria followed to assess the classification of an IL, we propose some recommendations helping to the identification of acidified ILs. This information can be especially useful to detect and identify non-burned ILs from seized or failed improvised incendiary devices made with mixtures of sulphuric acid&-IL, or ILs altered intentionally with the aim to modify their composition.