Quantifying study of volatile organic compounds released during early decomposition using SPME and GC/MS and the relationship to the interval since death

ANYL 143

Sarah A. Jones, saj176@psu.edu, Department of Forensic Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, 107 Whitmore Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802 and Dan Sykes, dgs12@psu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, 325 Whitmore Lab, University Park, PA 16802.
Human decomposition is a very complex process and has not been well studied at the chemical level. Studying the development of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over a certain period of time, using pigs as an alternative to humans, could possibly provide important relevant forensic information about the unknown chemical composition of death. Solid phase microextraction fibers will be used to collect the VOCs that are released from the pig carcass during the early stages of decomposition. Once the compounds are collected, they will be identified and quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data collected will be used to determine if there is a true correlation between compounds present and the interval since time of death.
 

General Posters
7:00 PM-9:00 PM, Sunday, August 16, 2009 Walter E. Washington Convention Center -- Hall D, Poster

Division of Analytical Chemistry

The 238th ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 16-20, 2009