Evaluation of selected sorbent materials for the collection of volatile organic compounds related to human scent using non-contact sampling mode

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 209; no. 1; pp. 133 - 142
• Main Authors: DeGreeff, Lauryn E., Curran, Allison M., Furton, Kenneth G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15.06.2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Adipates - analysis; Alkanes - analysis; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Cellulose; Collection; Cotton Fiber; Detector canine; Devices; Flow rate; Forensic chemistry; Forensic medicine; Forensic sciences; Furaldehyde - analysis; Furans - analysis; Gauze; General aspects; Human; Human scent; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Ketones - analysis; Medical sciences; Odor; Odor delivery; Odorants - analysis; Pathology; Polyesters; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Reproducibility of Results; Sampling; Scent collection; Sorbents; Sulfhydryl Compounds - analysis; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis; Detector canine; Odor delivery; Human scent; Odor; Scent collection; Human; Fissipedia; Evaluation; Carnivora; Forensic science; Legal medicine; Materials; Samplings; Forensic aspect; Volatile organic compound; Contact; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Detector; Animal; Collection; Delivery; Sampling; Dog
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.01.010

Human scent can be collected by either contact or non-contact sampling mode. The most frequently used human scent evidence collection device known as the Scent Transfer Unit (STU-100) is a dynamic sampling device and is often used in a non-contact mode. A customized human scent collection chamber was utilized in combination with controlled odor mimic permeation systems containing five standard human scent volatiles to optimize the flow rate, collection material and geometry of the absorbent material. The scent collection method which yielded the greatest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected included the use of a single layer of Johnson and Johnson gauze/multiple layers of Dukal gauze with the STU-100 on the lowest flow rate setting. The correlation of the resulting VOC profiles demonstrate that collection of standard VOCs in controlled conditions yielded reproducible VOC profiles on all materials studied with the exception of polyester. Finally, the method was tested using actual human subjects under optimized set of conditions.