Hydrocarbon forensic chemistry: exploring multiple fronts—a minireview

Hydrocarbons are a significant class of compounds encountered in various subareas of forensic chemistry, including transportation fuels, fire debris, explosives, post-explosion residues, environmental samples, drugs of abuse, and toxicology. This article provides an overview of the diverse contexts in which hydrocarbon analysis plays a crucial role in forensic investigations, underscoring its importance for forensic chemistry. This is achieved by drawing on the experience accumulated from analyses conducted in these various contexts at the National Institute of Criminalistics of the Brazilian Federal Police, as well as insights gained from a comprehensive literature review. Each topic is briefly discussed separately, focusing on the significance of hydrocarbon analysis and its contribution to solving investigations across different contexts. This review offers a unique perspective that has not been addressed in this manner by the specialized literature, thereby contributing to the forensic community's understanding of the importance of hydrocarbons in various contexts within forensic chemistry.