Publication: Forensic analysis of trace elements from smokeless powders by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
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Date
2016
Authors
Zailan, Nurul Athirah
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Abstract
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.