Forensic analysis, analytical chemistry

Brettell, T.A, and R. Saferstein Analysis in Forensic Science, Analytical Chemistry, HSR (June 15, 1991). 

ISO has two important functions in analytical chemistry. The first is to publish descriptions of accepted methods. These are effectively industry standard methods for particular protocols. The second is in laboratory accreditation. For a laboratory to be ISO accredited, compliance with international QA standards must be confirmed by an initial assessment and subsequently from repeated audits by an independent assessor. Since ISO has no legal or regulatory powers, the standards are voluntary. It is unlikely, however, that a forensic analysis which did not conform to an ISO standard would be upheld in court, for example. Most commercial laboratories need to be accredited to remain competitive and to deal with regulatory authorities. Most university labs are not accredited, mainly due to the time and costs involved, and also to the nonroutine nature of much university research. However, university accreditation may become a requirement in the near future, especially for publicly funded research in the UK. The details of laboratory accreditation are discussed by Christie et al. (1999) and Dobb (2004). 

We five in the age of quality. Quality is measured, analyzed, and discussed. The simplest product and the most trivial service come from quality-assured organizations. Conspicuously embracing quality is the standard of the age. Even university faculty are now subject to quality audits of their teaching. Some of these new-found enthusiasms may be more appropriate than others, but I have no doubt that proper attention to quality is vital for analytical chemistry. Analytical measurements affect every facet of our modern, first-world fives. Health, food, forensics, and general trade require measurements that often involve chemical analysis, which must be accurately conducted for informed decisions to be made. A sign of improvement in developing countries is often a nation s ability to measure important aspects of the lives of its citizens, such as cleanliness of water and food. 

Further applications of analytical chemistry in forensic sciences are discussed in a special issue on Forensic Analysis in Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry,52... 

Gas chromatography is one of the most active areas of analytical chemistry, but many references in GC will be found in sources other than just chromatography or analytical chemistry. Thus, literature searches should take one to the journals on topics where GC may be utilized, for example, journals of biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, catalysis, environmental studies, drug analysis, forensic chemistry, petroleum chemistry, inorganic chemistry. 

Analytical chemistry, or at least the results of chemical analyses, probably impinge on the public consciousness more than most other aspects of chemistry. A symposium held in 1999 on the interaction between analytical chemistry and the law contained three historical papers. The first concentrated mainly on the British and Irish contexts,337 the second, by the grandson of C. R. Fresenius, compared the present-day position of the analyst as expert with that obtaining in his grandfather s day,338 and the third discussed the development of expertise in forensic chemical analysis illustrated by case studies from the Viennese Institute.339... 

In particular, the book does not introduce the reader to the theory and meaning of fundamental physical and chemical properties of matter that are relevent to forensic analysis. Additionally, the book in many instances assumes prior knowledge of many of the analytical techniques of forensic chemistry. 

Every chemist is schooled in general, organic, and analytical chemistry, but forensic chemists also specialize in specific areas of expertise. For example, an inorganic chemist may examine traces of dust by using micro-chemistry to identify the chemical composition of tiny particles. Another chemist might employ thin-layer chromatography during the analysis of... 

The development of instrumental methods in analytical chemistry made possible fast, precise, and accurate analyses of a wide variety of important substances. Instrumental methods changed forever the metals industries, medical diagnosis, oil analysis, and forensic analytical chemistry, to mention a few highlights. In a very real sense, these developments in analytical chemistry made contemporary science and technology possible by opening up vast new continents of information about the world, which could be gained relatively easily and applied toward technological and/or scientific ends. 

This, then, is the context in which analytical chemistry developed or promoted the concept of instrumental objectivity. Analytical chemistry long has had important ties with the chemical industry. The development of instrumentation promoted equally important ties to forensic analysis, medical diagnosis, environmental analysis, among other fields. In producing new—better—methods of analysis its goals have had to serve the values of these many masters. 

This book has been written for university students studying analytical chemistry, applied chemistry, forensic chemistry, or other such courses where there is an element of HPLC within the course cmriculum. Ihe aim of the book is to explain HPLC from a forensic science perspective, and many of the examples used here are associated with real-life samples that might be expected within a forensic science laboratory. We have tried to maintain a balance between practical solutions and the theoretical considerations involved in HPLC analysis. The book takes the reader on a journey through the world of HPLC it is suitable for first-time users as well as those pursuing postgraduate study or in the early stages of their forensic analysis careers. 

Sturchio, N.C. (2004) Use of table chlorine and carbon isotope analysis in environmental forensic investigations of groundwater contamination. Abstracts from PIIT CON— Analytical Chemistry and. Applied Spectroscopy Conference Chicago, USA (March 7-12, 2004). 

FIGURE 20.14 Secondary ion mass spectrum of counts per second (logarithmic scale) versus m/z value (10-140 Th) for the analysis of a highly enriched uranium particle. Source Betti, M.,Tamborini, G., Koch, L. (1999), Use of secondary ion mass spectrometry in nuclear forensic analysis for the characterization of plutonium and highly enriched uranium particles. Analytical Chemistry, 7i (14), 2616-2622. 

Betti, M., et al. (1999) Use of secondary ion mass spectrometry in nuclear forensic analysis for the characterization of plutonium and highly enriched uranium particles. Analytical Chemistry, 71,2616-2622. 

Accurate uranium analysis, particularly for isotope measurements, is essential in many fields, including environmental studies, geology, hydrogeology, the nuclear industry, health physics, and homeland security. Nevertheless, only a few scientific books are dedicated to uranium in general and analytical chemistry aspects in particular. Analytical Chemistry of Uranium Environmental, Forensic, Nuclear, and Toxicological Applications covers the fascinating advances in the field of analytical chemistry of uranium. 

In the early history of chemistry, all chemists found themselves performing analyses of one kind or another. In more recent times, analytical procedures have become much more sophisticated, and analytical chemistry has in consequence become a specialised branch of the subject. The skills of the analyst are now utilised not only by other chemists, but also by those carrying out investigations in fields such as forensic science, environmental science and the quality control of all manner of products. Some analytical techniques (for example the quantitative elemental analysis of organic compounds and the investigation of molecular structure by physical methods) have been considered in earlier chapters. 

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