Electrochemical and mass spectrometry methods for identification of gunshot residues (GSR) in forensic investigations

• NCJ Number: 306210
• Author(s): Kourtney A. Dalzell
• Date Published: 2022
• Length: 160 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2018-DU-BX-0186
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Award: Fast Screening of Firearm Discharge Residues by Laser-based Spectrochemical Methods, Electrochemical Sensors, and Chemometrics

Annotation

This research presents the development of emerging analytical tools that facilitate the detection of both inorganic and organic gunshot residues. 

Abstract

This research group has focused its attention on the development of emerging analytical tools that facilitate the detection of both inorganic (IGSR) and organic gunshot residues (OGSR) using electrochemistry (EC) along with data mining tools to support more objective data interpretation. This research aims to fill some of the gaps observed in existing technologies like color tests by offering faster and complementary methods to decrease subjectivity, cost, analysis time, to aid with triage and more cost-effective workflows at the crime scene and laboratory. The complementary OGSR information is anticipated to cause a breakthrough in the GSR analysis paradigm and respond to the current OSAC recommendations for this specialized area of work. (Published abstract provided)