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Profumo A, Capucciati A, Mattino A, Donghi M, Merli D. A simple voltammetric method to evaluate the firing distance through determination of nitrocellulose. Talanta 2024; 266:125040. [PMID: 37566925 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Nitrocellulose (NC) is the main component of propellants for small firearm ammunitions. Even though NC particles are ejected from gun barrels together with bullets and they are often recovered on close-to-muzzle targets, quantitative analysis of nitrocellulose for forensic purposes has been neglected so far. Moreover, although the presence of the nitroester groups makes nitrocellulose electroactive, its electrochemical determination has been poorly considered in literature. In this paper, a quantitative differential pulse voltammetric method for the analysis of nitrocellulose in targets is suggested, with the aim of estimating its concentration decay on targets with increasing the shooting distance. The presented method works in acetonitrile/ethanol/lithium perchlorate, has a LOQ of 4 mg L-1 and linearity up to 2000 mg L-1. Ammunitions loaded with a nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine-based gunpowder were discharged to draw a calibration curve for shooting distance determination in the range from 5 cm to 120 cm. The effect of possible interfering substances (water, nitroglycerine, nitroguanidine, nitrites) was evaluated, and results are compared with literature methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Profumo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Capucciati
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessia Mattino
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Donghi
- Arma dei Carabinieri, RIS Parma, Parco Ducale 3, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Merli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; INFN Sezione di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milano, Italy.
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Oberenko AV, Sagalakov SA, Kachin SV. [Current approaches for sampling to study the traces of gunshot residue]. Sud Med Ekspert 2023; 66:55-58. [PMID: 38093431 DOI: 10.17116/sudmed20236606155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
An overview of researches, mainly by foreign specialists, on current available approaches for sampling to study the traces of gunshot residue (GSR) is presented. The comparative characteristics of traditional methods of samples (use of cotton and gauze tampons, blotting paper, textile fabrics, adhesive tapes, adhesives and vacuum samplers), as well as advanced technologies, including special devices and sorbents, are given. The characteristics of samplings from hands, scalp, nostrils, clothes of examined persons as well as procedures, that allow to increase the duration of GSR detection, are described in details. The importance of GSR sustainability over time is noted. On average, the most likely detection periods of particles are less than 1 hour for samples, collected from hands, more than 1 hour for samples from clothes and 2-3 hours for face. It is possible to detect the GSR particles in hair up to 24 h., and in nasal mucus after 6 h. of shot. The methods of identification and determination for analytes of inorganic and organic nature are discussed. The most common methods for determining heavy metal particles are atomic spectrometry, namely atomic absorption with electrothermal atomization and atomic emission. The combination of scanning laser ablation and mass-spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma makes it possible to detect more than 15 analytes in a single sample. Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray detectors is effective for the examination of powder particles. The described methods of sampling complement each other increasing the possibility of evidence base for court proceedings.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Oberenko
- Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Expert-Criminalistic Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Siberian Federal District, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - S V Kachin
- Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Azulay OI, Rosengarten H, Levi A, Weiss R, Levy O. The influence of a possible contamination of the victim's clothing on the estimation of shooting distance in mutual shooting incidents. J Forensic Sci 2022; 67:2438-2443. [PMID: 36121047 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
One of the tools for estimating shooting distance is examination of smokeless powder particle distribution on the target area. Components of the powder that are utilized for this purpose are nitrite anions. The traditional method for detecting nitrite anions mainly involves applying the Griess Test. A known-distance test firing is performed with shootings done at several distances from different targets. The color pattern corresponding to nitrite anions from the crime scene is then compared to the patterns obtained from known distances of the test firing. When a mutual shooting takes place at the crime scene, and a shooter also becomes a shootout victim, it is possible that when examining the shooter as a victim (i.e. target), additional nitrite-containing particles, resulting from his/her shooting, will be present on the shooter-victim clothing. This kind of addition may affect the estimation and practically give a shorter-distance estimation comparing to the actual distance. In this paper, an experimental setup was designed in order to understand if nitrite-containing particles were added to a victim as a consequence of him/her being also a shooter. All of the experiments were predominantly designed to try and minimize the effects of other influencing factors and variables in order to examine if the additions resulting from the firing action affect distance estimation. The experiments involved various types of pistols and distances. The results show that in such a scenario, there are marginal additions of nitrite signals on the victim's shirt. Although the forensic expert's final assessment was within the tolerance interval at all distances, caution should be exercised when attempting to estimate shooting distances in scenarios where the victim also shoots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osnat Israelsohn Azulay
- Toolmark and Materials Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, National Headquarters of the Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hila Rosengarten
- Toolmark and Materials Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, National Headquarters of the Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Aviad Levi
- Toolmark and Materials Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, National Headquarters of the Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Revital Weiss
- Toolmark and Materials Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, National Headquarters of the Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ophir Levy
- Toolmark and Materials Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science, National Headquarters of the Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel
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McKeever C, Callan S, Warren S, Dempsey E. Magnetic nanoparticle modified electrodes for voltammetric determination of propellant stabiliser diphenylamine. Talanta 2022; 238:123039. [PMID: 34801896 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The overall aim of the work was to advance electrochemical devices capable of analysis of forensically relevant residues using rapid electrochemical sensor technology. In order to achieve this, electrochemical detection of the propellant stabiliser diphenylamine (DPA) was achieved via voltammetry with signal enhancement realised in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticle modified transducers. This allowed both mechanistic and analytical evaluation with the aim to achieve the required selectivity and sensitivity for reliable detection. DPA electrochemistry was examined at glassy carbon electrodes in aqueous (3:7 methanol: sodium acetate pH 4.3) electrolyte via potential sweeping, with an irreversible wave at Ep = 0.67 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The diffusion coefficient (D) for the oxidation process was calculated as 1.43 × 10-6 cm2 s-1 with αna = 0.7. DPA electrochemistry in a non aqueous methanol/acetonitrile electrolyte resulted in a D value of 5.47 × 10-8 cm2 s-1 with αna = 0.5. Electrochemical preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was achieved via electrooxidation of an iron anode in the presence of an amine surfactant followed by characterisation with SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR and thermal analysis. A surface confined layer of these magnetic nanoparticles served to positively influence the response to DPA while impeding formation of surface confined oxidation products, with generation of an improved analytical signal - sensitivity 1.13× 10-3 A cm-2 mM-1 relative to bare electrode response (9.80 × 10-4 A cm-2 mM-1) over the range 0.5-50 μM DPA using differential pulse voltammetry, with LOD 3.51 × 10-6 M and LOQ 1.17 × 10-5 M. Real sample analysis involved recovery and differential pulse voltammetry of unburnt and burnt gunshot residue with DPA qualitative and quantitative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colm McKeever
- Department of Chemistry, Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sarah Callan
- Department of Chemistry, Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Susan Warren
- CREST Technology Gateway, FOCUS Research Institute, Technological University Dublin, Kevin St., Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eithne Dempsey
- Department of Chemistry, Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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Charles S, Geusens N, Vergalito E, Nys B. Interpol review of gunshot residue 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2021; 2:416-428. [PMID: 33385140 PMCID: PMC7770441 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in gunshot residue analysis from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Geusens
- INCC-NICC, Chaussée de Vilvorde 100, B-1120, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Bart Nys
- INCC-NICC, Chaussée de Vilvorde 100, B-1120, Brussels, Belgium
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Lennert E, Bridge CM. Rapid screening for smokeless powders using DART-HRMS and thermal desorption DART-HRMS. Forensic Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Mistek E, Fikiet MA, Khandasammy SR, Lednev IK. Toward Locard's Exchange Principle: Recent Developments in Forensic Trace Evidence Analysis. Anal Chem 2018; 91:637-654. [PMID: 30404441 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Mistek
- Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, SUNY , 1400 Washington Avenue , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
| | - Marisia A Fikiet
- Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, SUNY , 1400 Washington Avenue , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
| | - Shelby R Khandasammy
- Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, SUNY , 1400 Washington Avenue , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
| | - Igor K Lednev
- Department of Chemistry , University at Albany, SUNY , 1400 Washington Avenue , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
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Multi-spectral imaging for the estimation of shooting distances. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 282:80-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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