Resumen de Characterization of the products formed by the reaction of trichlorocyanuric acid with 2-propanol

Mark L. Sandercock, Julie S. Barnett

• We report a recent investigation into the death of a cat that was initially thought to involve intentionally burning the animal viathe use of an ignitable liquid. The exposure of the animal to flame was ruled out. Instead, forensic investigation revealed the intentional mixingtogether of a common outdoor swimming pool chlorinator, trichlorocyanuric acid (TCCA), and 2-propanol (aka, isopropyl alcohol or rubbingalcohol). The reaction of these two chemicals resulted in the formation of cyanuric acid residue, hydrochloric acid, and the evolution of a significantvolume of chlorine gas. Further a-chlorination side reactions also occurred between 2-propanol and TCCA to produce a variety of chlorinated 2-prop-anone species that were detected on the submitted evidence. The identification of the products of both the main reaction and the side reactionsallowed the authors to determine what chemicals were originally mixed together by the culprit