279
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_31
Chapter 31
Identification of Some Organic Solvents
During Regular Forensic Determination
of Alcohols in Blood and Bioliquids
Igor Winkler, Nataliia Burkun, and Iryna Lebedintseva
Determination of alcohols in the ‘alive’ or corpse blood or other bioliquids is a routine part of forensic investigations and road police practice. Gas chromatography
(GC) is one of reliable methods recognized in the juridical practice according to the
legislation of many countries including Ukraine. Using this highly selective and
sensitive method, alcohol contents can be determined and identified up to the tenth
of pro mille.
According to the officially approved lab method, the sample that may consist of
some traces of alcohols should be treated with trichloroacetic acid and then with the
solution of potassium nitrite. As a result, nitrous acid is formed (31.1) and then it
interacts with the alcohols immediately after formation, transforming them into corresponding nitrite ethers (31.2) (see the example below representing chemical reactions running in case of ethanol).
I. Winkler (*)
Bucovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
e-mail: winkler@bsmu.edu.ua
N. Burkun · I. Lebedintseva
Chernivtsi Regional Department of Forensic Medicine, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Abstract Some mixed organic solvents (MOS) can be detected preliminary during
regular gas-chromatography (GC) forensic analysis of alcohols content in human
blood. Some alcohols present in MOS can form detectable concentrations of volatile esters during the pre-treatment of blood samples according to the alcohol content determination protocol and then they can manifest themselves through the
corresponding GC responses recorded in the chromatogram. The ‘646’ and ‘647’
MOS form quite different patterns of GC, which can bring an expert to an assumption of their possible presence in the samples, which then should be verified by the
corresponding more specific and quantitative methods.
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_31
Chapter 31
Identification of Some Organic Solvents
During Regular Forensic Determination
of Alcohols in Blood and Bioliquids
Igor Winkler, Nataliia Burkun, and Iryna Lebedintseva
Determination of alcohols in the ‘alive’ or corpse blood or other bioliquids is a routine part of forensic investigations and road police practice. Gas chromatography
(GC) is one of reliable methods recognized in the juridical practice according to the
legislation of many countries including Ukraine. Using this highly selective and
sensitive method, alcohol contents can be determined and identified up to the tenth
of pro mille.
According to the officially approved lab method, the sample that may consist of
some traces of alcohols should be treated with trichloroacetic acid and then with the
solution of potassium nitrite. As a result, nitrous acid is formed (31.1) and then it
interacts with the alcohols immediately after formation, transforming them into corresponding nitrite ethers (31.2) (see the example below representing chemical reactions running in case of ethanol).
I. Winkler (*)
Bucovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
e-mail: winkler@bsmu.edu.ua
N. Burkun · I. Lebedintseva
Chernivtsi Regional Department of Forensic Medicine, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Abstract Some mixed organic solvents (MOS) can be detected preliminary during
regular gas-chromatography (GC) forensic analysis of alcohols content in human
blood. Some alcohols present in MOS can form detectable concentrations of volatile esters during the pre-treatment of blood samples according to the alcohol content determination protocol and then they can manifest themselves through the
corresponding GC responses recorded in the chromatogram. The ‘646’ and ‘647’
MOS form quite different patterns of GC, which can bring an expert to an assumption of their possible presence in the samples, which then should be verified by the
corresponding more specific and quantitative methods.