Detection and Classification of Ignitable Liquid Residues Using a Fluorescence-Based Vapor-Sensitive Microsphere Array

• NCJ Number: 229703
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2010 Pages: 178-184
• Author(s): Matthew J. Aernecke, Ph.D.; David R. Walt, Ph.D.
• Date Published: January 2010
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This work has been presented in part at the 2008 Pittsburgh Conference, March 2-6, 2008, in New Orleans, LA, and the 35th Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, June 29-July 2, 2008, in Burlington, VT.

Annotation

This paper describes the application of microsphere vapor sensing arrays to the detection of ignitable liquid (IL) vapors as both pure vapors and as residues (ILRs) on simulated fire debris samples.

Abstract

The temporal fluorescence response profile of the microsphere array generated a reproducible pattern unique to each analyte that could be used to classify subsequent sensor responses. This system, together with a support vector machine pattern recognition algorithm, was used to address several different IL and ILR classification scenarios. High classification accuracy (98 percent) was maintained over more than 200 vapor responses, and the array was able to identify ILs when presented to the pattern classification algorithm within a dataset containing 11 other volatile compounds. Both burned and unburned IL treated samples were classified correctly greater than 97 percent of the time. These results indicate that microsphere vapor may be useful for the rapid identification of ILs and ILRs. 5 tables, 2 figures, and 32 references (Published abstract)