Forensic Chemical Study on Soil. (I) Discrimination of Area by Pyrolysis Products of Soil

Abstract

Discrimination of soil samples in forensic science using organic components in the soil was investigated by Curie-point pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC). Pyrograms of soils under the conditions of pyrolysis temperature (590°C) and time (3 s), showed various patterns. In addition, fifteen constituents of phenolic aromatics in pyrolysis products were identified by GC-MS (PyGC-MS). The amounts of toluene and phenol, derived from lignin, and those of 2-methylfuran and furfural derived from polysaccharide in the soil showed quantitative differences. Consequently, the comparison of these pyrolysis products may be useful for the structural analysis of organic matter in the soil, and is useful for the discrimimation of soils in forensic science.