Using the tools of chromatography,mass spectrometry,and automated data processing in the detection of arson

The analysis of residual accelerants in fire debris is commonly carried out by a three-step procedure: sample preparation; separation and detection; and data interpretation. Each of these steps can be optimized individually but successful analysis requires that they are compatible with each other. The isolation of residual accelerant from fire debris requires that several methods are used to cover the range of fueis that are commonly used by arsonists. Since almost all incendiary fires are set with petroleum based fuels such as gasoline or heating oil, analysis is targeted toward hydrocarbons. Capillary column gas chromatography on apolar phases is now the overwhelmingly predominant method of separation. Data interpretation is commonly carried out by visual comparison of chromatograms. Fire debris analysis presents some unique challenges that are not often encountered in other fields. The analyte may be present at only trace levels and pyrolysis products from building materials or furnishings may dominate chromatographic patterns. Synthetic polymers may act as precursors to hydrocarbons that compete with substances typically found in petroleum based fuels. Exposure to heat and other environmental factors may also generate severe distortions in the chromatographic profiles of accelerants. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to these problems. Methods are available to reduce some of the chemical noise introduced by interferences and thus enhance the recognizability of the target substances. Mass spectrometry, in combination with a modern data system, is the most effective approach to filter out unwanted substances. The interpretation of the analytical results is aided by scaling, side-by-side comparison, or stacking of chromatograms. An additional advantage of such computerized systems is the possibility of complete automation of the analysis. In this communication, we look at the interplay of chromatographic resolution, noise reduction by mass spectrometry, and automated data evaluation. Examples from model experiments and from simulated arson samples are presented.     

VAMAS interlaboratory study on organic depth profiling

We present the results of a VAMAS (Versailles project on Advanced Materials and Standards) interlaboratory study on organic depth profiling, in which twenty laboratories submitted data from a multilayer organic reference material. Individual layers were identified using a range of different sputtering species (C₆₀ⁿ⁺, Cs⁺, SF₅⁺ and Xe⁺), but in this study only the C₆₀ⁿ⁺ ions were able to provide truly ‘molecular’ depth profiles from the reference samples. The repeatability of profiles carried out on three separate days by participants was shown to be excellent, with a number of laboratories obtaining better than 5% RSD (relative standard deviation) in depth resolution and sputtering yield, and better than 10% RSD in relative secondary ion intensities. Comparability between laboratories was also good in terms of depth resolution and sputtering yield, allowing useful relationships to be found between ion energy, sputtering yield and depth resolution. The study has shown that organic depth profiling results can, with care, be compared on a day‐to‐day basis and between laboratories. The study has also validated three approaches that significantly improve the quality of organic depth profiling: sample cooling, sample rotation and grazing angles of ion incidence. © Crown copyright 2010.     

Synthesis and magnetic behaviour of Mn:ZnO nanocrystalline powders

This paper reports on the magnetic properties of Mn:ZnO nanoparticles. XRD profiles have shown that the undertaken materials are in wurtzite structures. The crystallite size of the sample has been examined using TEM for one sample. In order to verify the lattice site occupancy and also valence state of the manganese ion, EPR spectral measurements have also been carried out for these samples. The magnetic properties of the samples have been investigated on a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM).     

Trace quantification of 1‐triacontanol in beagle plasma by GC‐MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

1‐Triacontanol (TA), a member of long chain fatty alcohol, has recently been received great attention owing to its antitumor activity. In this study, an accurate, sensitive and selective gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of TA in beagle plasma using 1‐octacosanal as the internal standard (IS) for the first time. With temperature programming, chromatographic separation was carried out on an HP‐5MS column, using helium as carrier gas and argon as collision gas, both at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. TA was analyzed using positive ion electrospray ionization in multiple‐reaction monitoring mode, with the precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 495.6 → 97.0 and m/z 467.5 → 97.0 for TA and the IS, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation, linearity, intra‐ and interday precision, accuracy, stability, extraction recovery and matrix effect of TA were within the acceptable limits. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of TA in beagles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TOF‐SIMS matrix effects in mixed organic layers in Ar cluster ion depth profiles

Matrix effects are crucial for analyses using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) in terms of quantitative analysis, depth profiling and imaging. It is often difficult to predict how co‐existing materials will influence each other before such analysis. However, matrix effects need to be curtailed in order to assume the appropriate amount of a target material in a sample. First, matrix effects on different types of organic mixed samples, including a sample composed of Irganox 1010 and Irganox 1098 (MMK sample) and another composed of Irganox 1010 and Fmoc‐pentafluoro‐L‐phenylalanine (MMF sample), were observed utilizing ToF‐SIMS and the dependence of the secondary ion polarity of the matrix effects on the same sample was evaluated. Next, the correction method for the ToF‐SIMS matrix effects proposed by Shard et al. was applied to a comparison of the positive secondary ion results to the negative ones. The matrix effects on the positive ion data in both samples were different from those on the negative ion data. The matrix effect correction method worked effectively on both the negative and positive depth profiles. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural features of muscimol, a potent GABAA receptor agonist, crystal structure and quantum chemicalab initio calculations

Muscimol, a constituent of the mushroomAmanita muscaria, is a semirigid analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA). X-ray structure determinations and quantum chemicalab initio calculations (HF/6-31G^*) have been carried out on the muscimol zwitterion. The solid-state conformations of the muscimol zwitterion are calculated to be 1.6–2.2 kcal/mol higher in energy than that of the calculated minimum energy structurein vacuo. A comparison of the calculated and experimental structures indicates that the hydrogen bonding network in the solid state significantly affects the geometry of the molecular structure. This conclusion is supported by results ofab initio calculations on binary complexes between muscimol and an ammonium ion and between muscimol and a methoxide anion, simulating observed hydrogen bonding in the crystal structures.     

Identification of several Tonalide® transformation products in the environment

This work reports on the survey carried out to determine the presence of microcystins (MCs) by using ELISA tests and HPLC-UV for such determination in different sample sites along the Spanish course of the Guadiana River. The most important cyanobacteria species identified were, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria spp. The highest total microcystin content recorded was 6.40?µg?L^?1 in 2002. The main toxins found were microcystins RR and LR, with microcystin YR present at trace levels. Improvements in sample clean up were carried out by using Immunoaffinity solid phase extraction (SPE) and its advantages regarding to conventional SPE were clearly demonstrated. The confirmation of MCs presence in the evaluated water reservoirs, underlines the necessity of monitoring programs as well as the improvement of analytical methodologies to efficiently prevent the human health risks as a consequence of MCs contamination.     

Splitless injection–development and state of the art. Including a comparison of matrix (“dirt”) effects in conventional and PTV splitless injection

Kurt Grob introduced splitless injection in 1969. He elaborated most of the working guidelines including the techniques required for reconcentrating the broad intial bands, i.e. the solvent effects and cold trapping. He also designed a vaporizing injector suited for splitless injection. Nevertheless, splitless injection is still often carried out using inappropriate conditions, and many of today's vaporizing injectors are not suited for splitless injection. No autosampler is available that introduces the sample at the appropriate position. Conventional splitless injection is compared to PTV splitless injection for the range of samples that cannot be handled by the anyway superior oncolumn injection, i.e. sample with high loads of involatile byproducts. There is a clear preference for PTV splitless injection as matrix effects observed in conventional splitless injection were found to be substantially reduced or even eliminated.     

Relationship between reduction of ceric ion with poly(vinyl alcohol) and graft copolymerization

Various poly(vinyl alcohol) samples were preliminarily subjected to oxidation treatment with sodium hypochlorite, and the reduction of ceric ion and subsequently initiation in the graft copolymerization in the system containing methyl methacrylate were investigated. The reduction behavior of ceric ion could be subdivided into three parts, each of different reaction rate. In the initial stage of the reaction, there was observed rapid cleavage of the backbone chain of poly(vinyl alcohol) with ceric salts. The amount A of cleavage was proportional to the amount of ceric ion reduced at the initial fastest rate for various samples of different extents of oxidation; cleavage of 1 mole required ca. 10 moles of reduction of ceric ion. Higher carbonyl contents of the sample caused increased A. Graft polymerization was carried out in the same system with the addition of the monomer. The amounts of grafted chains produced were determined, and approximately one mole of grafted chains was obtained for per mole of cleavage. The copolymer is concluded to be blocklike in structure. The contribution of the carbonyl groups in poly(vinyl alcohol) sample to the initiation of the polymerization should be emphasized.     

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry‐based metabolomic to screen for anabolic practices in cattle: identification of 5α‐androst‐2‐en‐17‐one as new biomarker of 4‐androstenedione misuse

The use of anabolic steroids as growth promoters for meat‐producing animals is banned within the European Union. However, screening for the illegal use of natural steroid hormones still represents a difficult challenge because of the high interindividual and physiological variability of the endogenous concentration levels in animals. In this context, the development of untargeted profiling approaches for identifying new relevant biomarkers of exposure and/or effect has been emerging for a couple of years. The present study deals with an untargeted metabolomics approach on the basis of GC‐MS aiming to reveal potential biomarkers signing a fraudulent administration of 4‐androstenedione (AED), an anabolic androgenic steroid chosen as template. After a sample preparation based on microextraction by packed sorbent, urinary profiles of the free and deglucurono‐conjugates urinary metabolites were acquired by GC‐MS in the full‐scan acquisition mode. Data processing and chemometric procedures highlighted 125 ions, allowing discrimination between samples collected before and after an administration of 4‐AED. After a first evaluation of the signal robustness using additional and independent non‐compliant samples, 17 steroid‐like metabolites were pointed out as relevant candidate biomarkers. All these metabolites were then monitored using a targeted GC‐MS/MS method for an additional assessment of their capacity to be used as biomarkers. Finally, two steroids, namely 5α‐androstane‐3β,17α‐diol and 5α‐androst‐2‐en‐17‐one, were concluded to be compatible with such a definition and which could be finally usable for screening purpose of AED abuse in cattle. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excited electronic states of a hydrogen bond: Bifluoride ion

We report here a summary of a limited CI calculation carried out on the C_∞v and D_∞h electronically excited states of bifluoride ion. This species is interesting as the prototype of a hydrogen-bonded system. It is determined that the lowest-lying excited states of the system are dissociative and/or autoionizing.     

The effects of inlet liner configuration and septum purge flow rate on discrimination in splitless injection

An unmodified split/splitless inlet system using forward-pressure controlled pneumatics was operated in splitless injection mode with several inlet liners under a range of septum purge flow rates. The relative recovery (discrimination) of hydrocarbons ranging from n-C₈ to n-C₂₀ depended strongly upon the injected sample volume with open-ended liners at high septum purge flow rates of e.g. 50 mL/min. Little or no discrimination was observed at septum purge flows of 2–3 mL/min. The same inlet was also operated in a back-pressure regulated configuration that produced mass discrimination similar to that observed with the higher septum purge flows in the forward-pressure configuration. An inlet liner with a restricted inlet and outlet gave mass-discrimination levels independent of septum purge flow rate, but in the reverse sense of that observed with open-ended liners. Preferential volatile-component losses out of the inlet liner to the septum purge vent are principally responsible for the observed mass discrimination with openended liners, while mass-dependent losses with doubly-restricted liners seem due to slow sample evaporation.     

Strontium binding properties of inorganic adsorbents

A comparison of strontium sorption on synthetic inorganic ion exchangers and zeolites from 0.01M CaCl₂ solution, sea water and an artificial foodstuff fluid has been carried out in batch and column experiments. It was found that some adsorbents among the groups manganese dioxides, mixed titanium-manganese oxides, antimony-based materials and synthetic zeolites had the highest selectivity to strontium (K _d >1000). These adsorbents are interesting for further investigation concerning their use for radiostrontium decontamination of foodstuffs (if nontoxic), as well as for analytical purposes.     

Ultracentrifugal equilibrium measurement of high polymer solutions at elevated temperatures

To investigate the solution properties of polyethylene, which has the simplest structure of the vinyl polymers, experiments were made with a magnetically suspended equilibrium ultracentrifuge. Preliminary studies were carried out with a polystyrene–chloroform system at 25°C. and a polystyrene–methylcyclohexane system at 68°C. (which is close to the theta temperature) in order to check the difficulties involved in the flotation equilibrium in the former case and the high temperature measurement in the latter. However, no trouble was encountered in either system, and the results were discussed and compared with earlier results for polystyrene solutions. It was found that chloroform is a good solvent for polystyrene, and the measured weight-average molecular weight is somewhat smaller than the value obtained in a theta solvent. After overcoming some technical difficulties involved in studies at higher temperatures, we carried out experiments on polyethylene in α-chloronaphthalene at 130°C. The results are considered reasonable by comparison with results obtained by other methods. The sample employed, Marlex 50 of melt index 0.7, has a wide molecular weight distribution: i.e., M_z/M_w = 5.2 and M_z+1/M_z = 2.4.     

Sample preparation for the chemical analysis of debris in suspect arson cases

Abroad review of current methods for the recovery of liquid residual accelerants in fire debris is given. A summary of current practices of sample preparation methods in U.S. laboratories is presented. Sampling of heated headspace is useful as a screening method. It is also applicable for samples that contain a high concentration of accelerant. Distillation-based methods are effective only when large amounts of accelerants are present but they permit the physical isolation of relatively pure liquids, including some water-soluble materials such as alcohols. Solvent extraction is particularly advantageous for accelerants of low volatility such as diesel fuel or highly evaporated petroleum-based products, but it is very susceptible to interferences from the matrix. Dynamic enrichment by adsorption/elution is the most popular and widely used recovery method for liquid accelerants. It offers high enrichment factors but shows weaknesses with respect to polar and low-volatility liquids. No single method is universally effective for all types of accelerants that are commonly encountered in practice. It appears that currently applied recovery methods are particularly weak for water-soluble organics such as alcohols. Sample preparation methods have to be viewed in conjunction with the method to be used to characterize and identify suspect accelerants. Gas chromatography is used almost exclusively for separation and measurement. Selective detection of components that are diagnostic of accelerants allows important trade-offs between sensitivity, chromatographic efficiency and the level of interferences that can be tolerated. Pattern recognition with comparison of chromatographic profiles is greatly simplified if interferences from the matrix can be suppressed. Application of capillary columns capable of high resolution facilitates the recognition of diagnostically important components. Petroleum-based fluids and products are ubiquitous in the human environment and it is therefore particularly important to pay attention to petroleum-based fluids that are derived from such sources. Many common inconspicuous household materials contain petroleum-based solvents and are thus a part of the natural background. The term sensitivity as it relates to the effectiveness of a recovery method must be critically viewed in this light.     

Studies on the Photochemical Oxidation of 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofuran and Cis-Cyclooctene in N,N-Dimethylformamide–Propanol Binary Mixture

Kinetic studies on the photochemical oxidation of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran have been carried out in binary liquid mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with 1-propanol (PrOH). The strongest influence of solvating effects upon the course of this reaction was observed for compositions of the studied mixture corresponding respectively to ca. 50?mol% of PrOH. Additionally, we have carried out analogous studies of photooxidation of cis-cyclooctene. Similarly as previously, the noticeable influence of solvating effects upon the course of this reaction corresponded to ca. 50?mol% of DMF. We suspect that the mechanism of this effect is associated with the formation of the polar intermediate during the ene reaction being easier.     

Ab Initio Calculation of the Structure and Functions of Sulfo Cation Exchangers

An ab initio calculation has been carried out for hydrated lithium, sodium, potassium, and rubidium toluenesulfonates, modeling the structure of sulfo cation exchangers in the form of alkali metal ions. In the optimized structure, water molecules are incorporated between the fixed ion and the counterions. This leads to dissociation of the ionogen groups, which increases the diffusion mobility of the counterions. Analysis of an elementary ion exchange process has revealed that cleavage of hydrogen bonds between the hydration water molecules of the fixed ion and the counterions plays a critical role in the ion exchange mechanism.     

Fluorometric Beam Profiling of UV MALDI Lasers

The photon distribution (beam profile) of the laser as projected onto the sample is an important variable in matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Measurement of the beam profile is, therefore, an important factor within MALDI-MS. In this study a simple, low-cost fluorometric laser beam profiling technique is presented and applied in conjunction with MALDI-MS experiments. A comparison of the beam profile information afforded by a commercial system and the fluorometric method is carried out to determine the variation of beam profile for an Nd:YVO₄ laser operated between 1 and 25 kHz. The beam profile information can be used, in conjunction with corresponding ion yields, to inform MALDI-MS experiments. The fluorometric beam profiling technique is used to obtain information about the beam dimensions as incident upon the MALDI-MS sample plate in-source. These values are compared with equivalent information obtained from ablation of thin film α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA). In this study, area estimation by ablation provided a value 1.6 times smaller than that obtained by the fluorometric method, demonstrating the need for caution when measuring beam profile and, therefore, fluence, in MALDI-MS.

Thermochemical Transformations in the Twelve-Salt Six-Component Reciprocal System Na,K,Ca,Ba∥F,SO4,WO4

Thermochemical characterization of the twelve-salt system Na,K,Ca,Ba∥F,SO₄,WO₄ (a 4∥3 system) and the four nine-salt five-component reciprocal subsystems is presented. A comparison of thermochemical relationships is carried out for these nine-salt systems, and the internal structural thermochemical transformations of exchange-reaction stages between all these systems are considered. The effect of a reaction stage on the final product yield is considered for sample chemical reactions. The thermochemical structure of basal tetrahedra of the singular star in the twelve-salt system is studied, and relationships are derived between various models of the system (salt-node indices in the matrix, reaction stages, geometrical figures) and chemical processes that occur in the system. These relationships can be used in experimental design.     

The Observation of Metastable Transitions in a High Resolution Double Focussing Mass Spectrometer

Three metastable transitions are observed with 3₁ 5-t-butyldimethylsiloxy-dehydrosterone (BDMS-DHEA) by detecting their daughter ion at m/z 269 in a double focussing mass spectrometer. Because of their specificity, the transitions of molecular ion could be served as quantitation routes for the determination of the steroid in human blood plasma using direct insertion probe with ionization chamber temperature ≥230°C. Thus, as is in MS/MS it would significantly reduce sample work-up time and possibly eliminate the need for a GC separation in detecting the level of this steroid in human blood.