earticle

영어

Helium is widely utilized colorless and odorless inert gas, which poses a risk of hypoxia-induced asphyxiation when encountered in high concentrations, as it diminishes the partial pressure of oxygen during respiration. Accurate detection of helium from autopsy sample is essential for forensic investigations to ascertain the cause of death in suspected cases of helium asphyxiation. Conventionally, Gas Chromatography with a Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD) is employed for headspace gas analysis of autopsy samples. Nonetheless, the efficacy of this method is often compromised by helium's low reactivity and the minimal residual presence in samples, further complicated by hydrogen interference resulting from putrefaction. This study introduces a novel preprocessing technique that utilizes an electric arc to initiate a reaction with oxygen, effectively eliminating hydrogen from the headspace gas and thus enhancing the detection of helium. Experimental validation revealed that a 5-minute preprocessing period could remove 95% of hydrogen, while a 10-minute treatment achieved a 97% reduction. The successful detection of helium in putrefied autopsy samples underscores the effectiveness of this method, offering a promising approach to improve helium detection in forensic contexts.