Forensic Analysis of Commercial Inks by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS).

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was tested for all of the relevant issues in forensic examinations of commercial inks, including classification of pen inks on one paper type and on different paper types, determination of the deposition order of layered inks, and analysis of signatures and toners on one questioned document. The scope of this work was to determine the potential of a single LIBS setup that is compatible with portable instruments for different types of ink analysis, rather than building a very large database for inks and papers. We identified up to seven metals characteristic for the examined inks, which allowed to fully discriminate all eight black inks on one type of printing paper.

Triacetone triperoxide characterization by FT-ICR mass spectrometry: Uncovering multiple forensic evidence.

Triacetone triperoxide is one of the most common used explosives by terrorist and criminal groups, being easily synthesized with over the counter reagents. Moreover, it's difficult to detect since it contains no nitrogen. Extreme resolution mass spectrometry, based on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry provides a way to established its composition, being able to detect its presence in complex matrixes.