Date
July 2017
Overview
Researchers at Florida International University’s (FIU’s) International Forensic Research Institute evaluated the capability of capillary microextraction of volatiles (CMV) to extract the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that constitute organic gunshot residue (OGSR) on the hands of shooters.
The team at FIU worked to optimize a field sampling method for the detection of OGSR and designed a custom-built Peltier cooling device for CMV to assess whether cryofocusing during the extraction process could improve the detection of OGSR in real-world samples. The benefits of cryofocusing, which were demonstrated in this work for the improved extraction of volatiles from OGSR, may be extended to other important areas of forensic chemistry, such as fire debris analysis and headspace signature analysis of drugs of abuse.
Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence report was provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.
