Abstract
A novel method to discriminate between the residues of kerosene or gas oil and the residues of domestic plastics in fire debris was developed based on the analysis of alkylcyclohexanes by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). n-Alkylcyclohexanes (n-alkylCys) and n-alkanes in kerosene or gas oil exhibited a series of molecular distribution patterns which are characteristic of oils manufactured by fractionation. AlkylCys were detected from C6 to C15 in kerosene and from C6 to C23 in gas oil. In contrast, alkylCys were detected from C6 to C10 in the pyrolysis products of polyethylene and not at all in those of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, poly?styrene, and polyester. Such analysis allows definitive discrimination between the residues of kerosene or gas oil and the pyrolysis products of plastics, and will be very useful for discriminating whether alkanes detected by GCMS were derived from petroleum or from plastic in fire debris samples.
