Introduction

Detection of Organic Gunshot Residue Using Capillary Microextraction of Volatiles with Cryofocusing

Detection of Organic Gunshot Residue Using Capillary Microextraction of Volatiles with Cryofocusing

Technical Note Date

July 2017

Purpose

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.

Technical Note Summary

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.

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