Paper forensic analysis

Chapter 14 The Forensic Analysis of Paper, Fibers, and Polymers... 

Since its inception in 1990, there have been nearly 1000 papers published in the literature employing SPME. Headspace SPME alone cam account for must of the increase in publications on headspace-related techniques since 1997. Among these papers, there are myriad applications. Supelco has produced an applications guide that lists about 500 of these (74). In general, applications of SPME are seen in environmental analysis, including air, soil, and water, food, natural products, pharmaceuticals, and clinical and forensic analysis, plus numerous articles on theoretical aspects. SPME has proved to be one of the most versatile sample preparation techniques available. 

It should be understood that the reported practices of polymer/additive analysis, being the focus of this book, equally well apply to additive analysis of rubbers, textile fibres, surface coatings, paints, resins, adhesives, paper and food, but specific product knowledge gives the edge. Both fresh and aged materials may be analysed, as well as those of both industrial and forensic origin. 

Major applications of modern TLC comprise various sample types biomedical, pharmaceutical, forensic, clinical, biological, environmental and industrial (product uniformity, impurity determination, surfactants, synthetic dyes) the technique is also frequently used in food science (some 10% of published papers) [446], Although polymer/additive analysis takes up a small share, it is apparent from deformulation schemes presented in Chapter 2 that (HP)TLC plays an appreciable role in industrial problem solving even though this is not reflected in a flood of scientific papers. TLC is not only useful for polymer additive extracts but in particular for direct separations based on dissolutions. 

Duewer DL, Kowalski BR (1975) Forensic data analysis by pattern recognition. Categorization of white bond papers by elemental composition. Anal Chem 47 526... 

Perkins, A. K., and R. E. Jervis Recent Forensic Applications of Instrumental Activation Analysis. The 1968 International Conference Modern Trends in Activation Analysis, Gaithersburg, Maryland, October 7—11, 1968, Paper 60. 

Howard, S. J., Meyer, J., and Forbes, S. L. (2006). Estimating time since death from human skeletal remains by radioisotope and trace element analysis. Paper presented at the 18th International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, Perth, Australia, Apr. 2-11,2006. 

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... 

This paper has outlined activities in forensic science over the past several years at Northeastern University. The establishment of the Institute of Chemical Analysis, Applications and Forensic Science has greatly aided in the development of forensic research and educational programs. Several years ago Bradford and Samuel (10) recommended the establishment of forensic science institutes to provide service to the profession. While we have not exactly followed their ideas, there are similarities between their recommendations and our activities. As time progresses, it is hoped that research and education at this Institute will make significant contributions to the field of forensic science. 

Nonmetallic Inorganic Solids. This category includes many items of forensic importance ceramic and glasses naturally occurring substances such as building and insulation materials and soil components additives to papers, paints, explosives, drugs and many other materials. In contrast to metals, even the task of basic material identification often requires considerably more than the overall chemical analysis for these substances. 

Paper is one of the more common evidential materials encountered in crimes such as forgery, conspiracy, threatening letters and kidnapping its examination is therefore frequently required in the forensic laboratory (21). (Another aspect of document examination, viz., ink analysis, is treated in another chapter of this volume (22).) As with other forensic materials, two questions commonly arise ... 

---