Pyrolysis products of linear alkylbenzenes--implications in fire debris analysis.

In this case report, potential interferences from an improvised fire-extinguishing agent, a dishwashing liquid, containing linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), was studied. The presence of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) in the fire debris sample was identified from the summed ion profile (SIP) analysis. It was found that the LAS from dishwashing liquids produce LABs by thermal degradation.