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Effects of superglue fuming on materials characterization of zip-lock polyethylene bags for route forensic analyses

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry volume 295, pages 2015–2019 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Using cyanoacrylate or “superglue” fuming to develop latent dermatoglyphic prints significantly altered the volatile and semivolatile compounds within the material of polyethylene zip-lock bags. Comparisons of SPME-GC/MS analyses of poly bags obtained before and after application of a glue fuming fingermark-developing technique resulted in markedly different material profiles of the bags. Not only were species added to the chemical composition of a bag, but other compounds that had been initially present were removed. These effects are particularly important for nuclear forensic investigations in the realm of route (pathway) analyses, and may also be of general interest to criminalistics laboratories that examine illicit drugs and their packaging.

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Acknowledgments

This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Science Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Carolyn J. Koester & Patrick M. Grant

  2. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sciences Unit, FBI Laboratory, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135, USA

    James F. Blankenship

Authors
  1. Carolyn J. Koester
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  2. James F. Blankenship
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  3. Patrick M. Grant
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Correspondence to Patrick M. Grant.

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Koester, C.J., Blankenship, J.F. & Grant, P.M. Effects of superglue fuming on materials characterization of zip-lock polyethylene bags for route forensic analyses. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 2015–2019 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2191-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2191-2

Keywords

  • Forensic science
  • Nuclear smuggling
  • Route analyses
  • Zip-lock polyethylene bags
  • Material composition
  • Cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming
  • SPME
  • GC/MS