ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Differentiation of Diethyl Ether/Acetone and Ethanol/Acetonitrile Solvent Pairs, and Other Common Volatiles by Dual Column Headspace Gas Chromatography
Logan, BK
Washington State Toxicology Laboratory, University of Washington, WA

Kiesel, EL
Snohomish County Medical Examiners Office, WA

Case, GA
Washington State Toxicology Laboratory, University of Washington, WA

(Received 28 March 1994; accepted 14 April 1994)

Abstract

Gas chromatography is the most widely used method for the analysis of ethanol and other low molecular weight volatiles for forensic applications. Many laboratories use only a single analytical method for this analyte. Concern over the possible misidentification of acetonitrile as ethanol, and our experience in a case where we misidentified diethyl ether as acetone using a single method approach, led us to develop and adopt the dual column method described herein. Two columns, 5% carbowax on 60/80 Carbopak B, and 0.8% THEED on 80/100 carbopak C, were used for the complementary analysis of 32 common volatile organic compounds.

Keywords:
toxicology, ethanol, diethyl ether, ethyl chloride, gas chromatography

Paper ID: JFS13742J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13742J
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