Journal of Medical Toxicology and Clinical Forensic Medicine

Detection of Biogenic Amines from soil samples using Field Asymmetrical Ion Mobility Sectrometry

Complex compounds that are released during the active
stage of decomposition such as Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC’s) can aid in estimating the time of death,
especially in cases of homicide, missing persons and mass
disasters. In this paper, a new equipment, Field Asymmetrical
Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) was used
to identify and study these biogenic compounds. Field
Asymmetrical Ion Mobility Spectrometry, a variation
of the ion mobility spectrometry, is used to detect compounds
at sensitivity as low as 10 ppb and with different
proton affinities. Over 96 soil samples from three pig carcasses
were collected and weighed into vials. These were
analysed using FAIMS and compared to blank samples.
Due to competitive ionisations, it was difficult to differentiate
between cadaverine and putrescine; however,
the peaks of the biogenic amines were distinctly different
from the blank samples. The results showed that the
differences between blank samples and those with biogenic
amines were highly distinguishable. The discussion
covers the outcomes of the experiment and the various
problems faced as this study has not been conducted before.
This is a preliminary study in to the use of FAIMS
in the detection of biogenic amines for the estimation of
time of death and the future scope is vast, particularly
in quantification of biogenic amines detected and understanding
the effects of various soil types and conditions.
The goal of this study was to prove that biogenic amines
can be detected from soil samples using a unique equipment,
the Owlstone Lonestar with the FAIMS chip. The
purpose is to shed light on this field of death studies to
estimate time since death and illustrate the importance
of soil samples in such investigations. This can support
Human Remain

Author(s):

Complex compounds that are released during the active
stage of decomposition such as Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC’s) can aid in estimating the time of death,
especially in cases of homicide, missing persons and mass
disasters. In this paper, a new equipment, Field Asymmetrical
Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) was used
to identify and study these biogenic compounds. Field
Asymmetrical Ion Mobility Spectrometry, a variation
of the ion mobility spectrometry, is used to detect compounds
at sensitivity as low as 10 ppb and with different
proton affinities. Over 96 soil samples from three pig carcasses
were collected and weighed into vials. These were
analysed using FAIMS and compared to blank samples.
Due to competitive ionisations, it was difficult to differentiate
between cadaverine and putrescine; however,
the peaks of the biogenic amines were distinctly different
from the blank samples. The results showed that the
differences between blank samples and those with biogenic
amines were highly distinguishable. The discussion
covers the outcomes of the experiment and the various
problems faced as this study has not been conducted before.
This is a preliminary study in to the use of FAIMS
in the detection of biogenic amines for the estimation of
time of death and the future scope is vast, particularly
in quantification of biogenic amines detected and understanding
the effects of various soil types and conditions.
The goal of this study was to prove that biogenic amines
can be detected from soil samples using a unique equipment,
the Owlstone Lonestar with the FAIMS chip. The
purpose is to shed light on this field of death studies to
estimate time since death and illustrate the importance
of soil samples in such investigations. This can support
Human Remain.

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