Forensic Analysis of Commercial Inks by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Flavio Cicconi1, Violeta Lazic2, Antonio Palucci2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna (BO), Italy.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 9, 2020
Summary
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) effectively classifies commercial inks and determines ink deposition order for forensic analysis. This portable technique shows potential for diverse ink examinations on various paper types.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Commercial ink analysis is crucial in forensic document examination.
- Existing methods may require extensive databases or specialized equipment.
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers a potential alternative for rapid ink analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of a single, portable Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) setup for forensic ink analysis.
- To assess LIBS performance in classifying inks on various paper types.
- To determine LIBS capability in analyzing layered inks and questioned documents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a single Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument.
- Tested ink classification on single and multiple paper types.
- Analyzed layered ink deposition order and inks on questioned documents.
Main Results:
- Identified characteristic metals for ink discrimination, successfully classifying eight black inks on one paper type.
- Observed reduced classification rates on different papers, with detailed explanations provided.
- Achieved successful determination of ink deposition order in five out of six tests.
- Differentiated inks on signatures and printing types within questioned documents.
Conclusions:
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) demonstrates significant potential for forensic ink analysis using a single, portable setup.
- LIBS can classify inks and determine deposition order, even with variations in paper substrates.
- The findings support LIBS as a valuable tool for forensic document examination.
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