Untargeted SPME-GC-MS Characterization of VOCs Released from Spray Paint

Mitchell Tiessen; Naomi L Stock; Theresa Stotesbury

doi:10.1093/chromsci/bmaa082

Untargeted SPME-GC-MS Characterization of VOCs Released from Spray Paint

J Chromatogr Sci. 2021 Jan 14;59(2):103-111. doi: 10.1093/chromsci/bmaa082.

Authors

Mitchell Tiessen¹, Naomi L Stock², Theresa Stotesbury^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Forensic Science Undergraduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
² Water Quality Centre, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2, Canada.
³ Faculty of Science, Forensic Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada.

PMID: 33147617
DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmaa082

Abstract

Paints are a common form of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes. This research presents an optimized method for the untargeted analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in spray paint using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). The presence and persistence of VOCs were monitored in 30 minute intervals, over a 4 hour period, in a triplicate time study. As predicted, spray paint solvents are lost to the environment readily, whereas few VOCs remained present in the headspace in low concentrations beyond 4 hours. The VOCs that were observed to have the highest persistence in the headspace were aromatic compounds and those with longer hydrocarbon chains. We present this study in a forensic science context and suggest that the interpretation of the results may be useful for forensic applications in establishing a time since deposition of a spray-painted surface.