Characterization of a headspace sampling method with a five-component diesel fuel surrogate

PLOT-cryoadsorption concentrates headspace vapors by sweeping them through porous layer open tubular (PLOT) capillaries chilled to 0 °C promote adsorption onto an alumina layer. Compared passive concentration employing activated charcoal strips (ACSs) as adsorbents, has several potential advantages for extracting ignitable liquid (IL) residue from fire debris evidence. Capillary vapor traps can be monitored breakthrough avoid problematic displacement that occurs when adsorbent becomes saturated. Capillaries also eluted with acetone highly toxic carbon disulfide. Future adoption of analysis requires investigation sampling parameters including collection volume, flow rate, and temperature. Here we employ a simple five-component surrogate diesel fuel (that is, simulated or artificial fuel) study the effect rate sample temperature on composition spatial distribution collected headspace. Flow rates at below 1.5 scc (standard cubic centimeters)/min yielded most repeatable results. Across range 60 120 °C, found high temperatures allowed more total shifted its towards lower-volatility components. Consistent chromatographic theory, higher-volatility components traveled furthest along length capillary were prone breakthrough. We conclude mixture effective, quantitative comparisons between conditions could translated real fuel.