Forensic analysis of trace elements from smokeless powders by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Smokeless powders are a class of propellants found in ammunition, which could also be encountered in improvised explosive devices. The analyses of smokeless powders are usually focused towards organic constituents that mostly made up their composition. In this study, inorganic elements of smokele...
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| Format: | Monograph |
| Language: | English |
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
2016
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/62371/ http://eprints.usm.my/62371/1/NURUL%20ATHIRAH%20BINTI%20ZAILAN%20-%20e.pdf |
| Summary: | Smokeless powders are a class of propellants found in ammunition, which could also be
encountered in improvised explosive devices. The analyses of smokeless powders are
usually focused towards organic constituents that mostly made up their composition. In
this study, inorganic elements of smokeless powders were aimed to be explored using
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. Six types of
smokeless powders were chosen in which each type was duplicated into two samples,
making a total of twelve samples. Hot plate procedure was used in acid digestion to
dissolve the powders in acid solutions before analysed by ICP-MS. This study found the
presence of elements of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), potassium (K),
calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc
(Zn), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), antimony (Sb), barium (Ba) and lead (Pb) in all
samples. The major elements detected in all types of samples were Na, Al, Ca, Cu, Zn
and Pb while the minor elements detected were Mo, Mg and Cd. For other elements
detected, they showed varying concentrations in every sample tested. This study
suggested that it was difficult to differentiate the smokeless powders into their types
based on inorganic elements alone. However, it has successfully strengthened the
previous idea stating that it was possible that inorganic gunshot residue could also be
originated from smokeless powder and not only from primer and bullet, with proof on the
presence of inorganic elements in smokeless powders. |
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