Abstract
A novel approach utilizing automated Raman microspectroscopic mapping for gunshot residue (GSR) detection was investigated. A well-established technique for GSR recovery (tape lifting) was utilized for GSR particle collection. Uncontaminated samples of the substrate (tape), organic GSR (OGSR), and inorganic GSR (IGSR) particles were characterized to generate three respective Raman spectroscopic training sets. Automated Raman mapping was used to rapidly collect spectra over areas of the tape substrate populated with GSR particles. Raman spectra collected from the maps were classified against the training sets via partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to determine if GSR was present. We report the application of Raman chemical mapping as a proof of concept for the positive detection of GSR particles of varying morphologies. The estimated size of GSR particles, which could be readily detected by this method, is about 3.4 μm. The efficiency of the classification was quantitated with rates of true positives and negatives. Validation studies scrutinizing the practicality of this approach as a viable tool for potential forensics investigations are currently in progress.
The figure illustrates a novel approach for the recovery and identification of gunshot residue on adhesive tape. The emerging approach combines tape lifting and a rapid, non-destructive Raman spectroscopic scanning over the tape, which was used for collecting GSR from a surface of interest. Detection of GSR is achieved through multivariate classification of mapping spectra against a known training set.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Dr. Alexander Rzhevskii and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. for their advisement and expertise and access to their DXR Raman microscope. We are also grateful to Lieutenant Heller and Sergeant D’Allaird of the New York State Police for providing the GSR samples. We also thank Claire K. Luber for assistance with manuscript editing. Finally, we thank Dr. Aliaksandra Sikirzhytskaya for generating the online abstract figure.
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Bueno, J., Lednev, I.K. Raman microspectroscopic chemical mapping and chemometric classification for the identification of gunshot residue on adhesive tape. Anal Bioanal Chem 406, 4595–4599 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-7874-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-7874-9