Elemental Analysis of Printing Ink with the Application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)- A Review

Abstract

Forgery cases involving printed documents have recently increased due to advanced printing technologies. As a result, various analytical instruments are currently applied in forensic document examination to analyse printing ink. Analyses of printing ink are primarily focused on the ink’s chemical components, namely colourants, vehicles, and additives. Previous studies on ink analysis show an increasing trend in the use of spectroscopy methods including the application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). This instrument is favoured by document examiners in analysing printing ink due to its versatility, simple preparation, multi-elemental detection, minimal destruction, and precise readings. The examination of printing ink using LIBS is reviewed in this publication in addition to findings from previous research. The strengths and drawbacks of this technique, as well as contemporary approaches, are also explored in this article.