Study of isotopic variations in black powder: reflections on the use of stable isotopes in forensic science for source inference

Abstract

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) has recently made its appearance in the forensic community. This high-precision technology has already been applied to a broad range of forensic fields such as illicit drugs, explosives and flammable liquids, where current, routinely used techniques have limited powers of discrimination. The conclusions drawn from the majority of these IRMS studies appear to be very promising. Used in a comparative process, as in food or drug authentication, the measurement of stable isotope ratios is a new and remarkable analytical tool for the discrimination or the identification of a substance with a definite source or origin. However, the research consists mostly of preliminary studies. The significance of this 'new' piece of information needs to be evaluated in light of a forensic framework to assess the actual potential and validity of IRMS, considering the characteristics of each field. Through the isotopic study of black powder, this paper aims at illustrating the potential of the method and the limitations of current knowledge in stable isotopes when facing forensic problems.

Potential of IRMS technology for tracing gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

“…Alternatively, the determination of differences in the carbon isotope ratio of GBL by means of IRMS was found to be a more promising methodology to tackle the links between GBL samples. Valuable use of stable isotope profiles has already been assessed in order to gain intelligence through forensic analysis, for instance for the determination of the geographic origin of drugs [28], or for linking samples of drugs [29] or black powder [30].…”

Ion spectrometric detection technologies for ultra‐traces of explosives: A review

“…A combination of SPME-GC-IRMS has been used to determine d (Berg, Bolotin, & Hofstetter, 2007) and the isotopic variations of black powder (Gentile, Siegwolf, & Delémont, 2009). It has been reported that the presence of nitrogen may interfere the 2 H isotopic analysis of nitrogen-rich explosives because of partially overlapping signals (Meier-Augenstein, Kemp, & Lock, 2009).…”

Forensic Mass Spectrometry

“…Several reviews have discussed forensic applications of IRMS (105)(106)(107)(108), and Meier-Augenstein (109) provided even more comprehensive coverage in his recent book Stable Isotope Forensics. In forensic applications, isotope ratio analysis provides information about the natural or synthetic origins of scheduled drugs (110)(111)(112)(113)(114)(115)(116)(117)(118)(119)(120), organic and inorganic explosives (76,121,122), petroleum hydrocarbons (such as in ignitable liquids) (65,66,(123)(124)(125)(126), and various other forensic materials (such as fibers, matches, and paint chips) (127)(128)(129)(130)(131). The ability to analyze hard and soft human tissue has also provided helpful investigative leads about the geographic origins of humans, especially in John Doe and Jane Doe cases where fingerprints, DNA, and dental records are not found in databases (132)(133)(134)(135)(136)(137)(138)(139).…”