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Forensic profiling of non-volatile organic compounds in soil using ultra-performance liquid chromatography: a pilot
Loong Chuen Lee1,2, Ab Aziz Ishak1, Ameeta A/P Nai Eyan1
1Program of Forensic Sciences, Centre for Diagnostic, Therapeutic & Investigative Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia.
Forensic Sciences Research
|February 23, 2023
Summary
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) offers a more sensitive method for forensic soil analysis. This study optimized UPLC parameters for profiling non-volatile organic compounds in Malaysian soils, proving more chemical-efficient than HPLC.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Soil analysis is crucial in forensic science for linking suspects to crime scenes.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is established for soil discrimination, but its sensitivity is limited.
- Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) offers superior sensitivity but has not been applied to forensic soil profiling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method for profiling non-volatile organic compounds in Malaysian soils.
- To evaluate the impact of various chromatographic parameters on UPLC soil analysis.
- To establish a more sensitive and chemical-efficient method for forensic soil analysis compared to HPLC.
Main Methods:
- Developed a UPLC method for analyzing non-volatile organic compounds in three Malaysian soil types.
- Investigated the effects of elution programs (isocratic vs. gradient), flow rates (0.1 vs. 0.2 mL/min), extraction solvents (acetonitrile vs. methanol), and detection wavelengths (230 vs. 254 nm).
- Optimized parameters including injection volume (5 µL) and run time (35 min), generating 24 chromatograms per sample.
Main Results:
- Identified optimal parameters: isocratic elution, a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min, and acetonitrile as the extraction solvent.
- The UPLC method successfully profiled non-volatile organic compounds in the investigated Malaysian soils.
- The optimized UPLC system demonstrated greater chemical efficiency compared to traditional HPLC.
Conclusions:
- The proposed UPLC method is a feasible and highly sensitive technique for forensic soil profiling.
- This method provides enhanced discrimination capabilities for soil samples from proximity locations.
- UPLC represents a significant advancement in chemical-efficient forensic soil analysis.
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