Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium.
PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039005. Epub 2012 Jun 18.
Soon after death, the decay process of mammalian soft tissues begins and leads to the release of cadaveric volatile compounds in the surrounding environment. The study of postmortem decomposition products is an emerging field of study in forensic science. However, a better knowledge of the smell of death and its volatile constituents may have many applications in forensic sciences. Domestic pigs are the most widely used human body analogues in forensic experiments, mainly due to ethical restrictions. Indeed, decomposition trials on human corpses are restricted in many countries worldwide. This article reports on the use of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) for thanatochemistry applications. A total of 832 VOCs released by a decaying pig carcass in terrestrial ecosystem, i.e. a forest biotope, were identified by GCxGC-TOFMS. These postmortem compounds belong to many kinds of chemical class, mainly oxygen compounds (alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters), sulfur and nitrogen compounds, aromatic compounds such as phenolic molecules and hydrocarbons. The use of GCxGC-TOFMS in study of postmortem volatile compounds instead of conventional GC-MS was successful.
哺乳动物软组织死后不久，开始腐烂，导致周围环境中释放出尸源挥发性化合物。死后分解产物的研究是法医学中一个新兴的研究领域。然而，更好地了解死亡的气味及其挥发性成分可能在法医学中有许多应用。家猪是法医学实验中最广泛使用的人体模拟物，主要是由于伦理限制。事实上，在许多国家，对人类尸体的分解试验受到限制。本文报告了使用全面二维气相色谱与飞行时间质谱联用（GCxGC-TOFMS）进行法化学生物学应用的情况。通过 GCxGC-TOFMS 鉴定了在陆地生态系统（即森林生境）中腐烂猪尸释放的 832 种挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）。这些死后化合物属于多种化学类别，主要是含氧化合物（醇、酸、酮、醛、酯）、硫和氮化合物、芳香族化合物如酚类分子和烃类。使用 GCxGC-TOFMS 研究死后挥发性化合物而不是传统的 GC-MS 是成功的。
