TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil examination for a forensic trace evidence laboratory
T2 - Part 2: Elemental analysis
AU - WOODS, Brenda
AU - Kirkbride, Paul
AU - LENNARD, Chris
AU - ROBERTSON, James
PY - 2014/12
Y1 - 2014/12
N2 - Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) are compared in terms of their discrimination power when applied to Australian soil specimens. SEM/EDX and XRF are frequently used in forensic laboratories for the elemental analysis of paint and glass, and for miscellaneous examinations. LIBS is an emerging technique for forensic applications, with a number of researchers promoting its use for the elemental profiling of glass fragments. In this study, 29 soil specimens were analysed, with 12 specimens coming from the Canberra area and the remaining 17 specimens from other sites around Australia. As very good discrimination results were obtained for each of the analytical methods, any of these elemental analysis techniques, available in a trace evidence laboratory, could be used as part of a wider examination protocol to differentiate soil specimens.
AB - Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) are compared in terms of their discrimination power when applied to Australian soil specimens. SEM/EDX and XRF are frequently used in forensic laboratories for the elemental analysis of paint and glass, and for miscellaneous examinations. LIBS is an emerging technique for forensic applications, with a number of researchers promoting its use for the elemental profiling of glass fragments. In this study, 29 soil specimens were analysed, with 12 specimens coming from the Canberra area and the remaining 17 specimens from other sites around Australia. As very good discrimination results were obtained for each of the analytical methods, any of these elemental analysis techniques, available in a trace evidence laboratory, could be used as part of a wider examination protocol to differentiate soil specimens.
KW - Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
KW - LIBS
KW - Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
KW - SEM/EDX
KW - X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy
KW - XRF
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84912042505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.018
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.018
M3 - Article
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 245
SP - 195
EP - 201
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
ER -