Quantitative determination of n-propane, iso-butane, and n-butane by headspace GC-MS in intoxications by inhalation of lighter fluid

This report describes a fully elaborated and validated method for quantitation of the hydrocarbons n-propane, iso-butane, and n-butane in blood samples. The newly developed analytical procedure is suitable for both emergency cases and forensic medicine investigations. Its practical applicability is illustrated with a forensic blood sample after acute inhalative intoxication with lighter fluid; case history and toxicological findings are included. Identification and quantitation of the analytes were performed using static headspace extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In order to reconcile the large gas volumes injected (0.5 mL) with the narrowbore capillary column and thus achieve preconcentration, cold trapping on a Tenax sorbent followed by flash desorption was applied. Adequate retention and separation were achieved isothermally at 35°C on a thick-film capillary column. Sample preparation was kept to a strict minimum and involved simply adding 2.5 μL of a liquid solution of 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane in t-butyl-methylether as an internal standard to aliquots of blood in a capped vial. Standards were created by volumetric dilution departing from a gravimetrically prepared calibration gas mixture composed of 0.3% of n-propane, 0.7% of iso-butane, and 0.8% of n-butane in nitrogen. In the forensic blood sample, the following concentrations were measured: 90.0 Pg/L for n-propane, 246 μg/L for iso-butane, and 846 μg/L for n-butane.