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Forensic discrimination of photocopy and printer toners. III. Multivariate statistics applied to scanning electron microscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Copy toner samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with X-ray dispersive analysis (SEM–EDX) and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). Principal component and cluster analysis of SEM data for 166 copy toner samples established 13 statistically different subgroups, with the presence or absence of a ferrite base being a major division. When toners were compared for which both SEM and reflection–absorption infrared spectral data were available, 41% of the samples could be assigned to specific manufacturers. Py–GC/MS on poly(styrene:acrylate)-based toners produced eight peaks relevant to toner differentiation. One third of the toners clustered in a small group that contained five statistically different subgroups. Of the 57 toners for which both Py–GC/MS and SEM data were available, 31 could be differentiated using the combined analytical results. The synergy of the complementary information provided by Py–GC/MS and SEM narrows matching possibilities for forensic investigations involving copied or laser printed documents.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the FBI Academy and by award number 97-LB-VX-0006 from the Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U. S. Department of Justice. Portions of this work were presented at the 11th International Conferences on Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (Athens, GA, August 10–15, 1997) and at FACSS '97 (Providence, RI, 27–31 October, 1997).

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Author notes

  1. William J. Egan

    Present address: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, 130 Waverly Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4242, USA

  2. Randolph C. Galipo

    Present address: Building 82, Eastman Kodak Co., 1999 Lake Ave., Rochester, NY, 14650-2140, USA

  3. Brian K. Kochanowski

    Present address: Waters Associates, 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, 01757-3696, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    William J. Egan, Randolph C. Galipo, Brian K. Kochanowski & Stephen L. Morgan

  2. FBI Laboratory, Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA , 22135, USA

    Edward G. Bartick & Mark L. Miller

  3. Chemistry Unit, FBI Laboratory, Quantico, VA, 22135, USA

    Dennis C. Ward & Robert F. Mothershead II

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  1. William J. Egan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edward G. Bartick.

Additional information

This is publication number 03-04 of the Laboratory Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Names of commercial manufacturers are provided for identification only, and inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Egan, W.J., Galipo, R.C., Kochanowski, B.K. et al. Forensic discrimination of photocopy and printer toners. III. Multivariate statistics applied to scanning electron microscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 376, 1286–1297 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2099-3

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