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ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis
ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis
ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis
ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis
ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis
ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis

ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis

FOR THE ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE BY LASER INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY

With a large sample chamber, ECCO 2 is designed for the analysis of paper, glass, metals, paint, fibers, minerals and gunshot residues by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) providing elemental analysis on materials as small as 300 microns.

The system uses a high-intensity pulsed laser focussed on to the sample to create a plasma of vaporized matter which emits an atomic spectrum of the constituent elements. A database of emission lines provides automatic identification and labeling of elements present.

Analysis with ECCO 2 is fast, simple to operate, requires minimal sample preparation, gives immediate results and is sensitive to low parts per million. LIBS offers significant advantages in speed, sensitivity and cost-effectiveness over other processes such as XRF, SEM, and mass spectrometry.

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ECCO

Identifying Methamphetamine Precursors

Using LIBS to identify methamphetamine precursors

Methamphetamine production and use have become a scourge of many countries worldwide. This in part is due to the ready availability of the precursor chemicals for its manufacture. This makes it possible for small-scale production in Clandestine Laboratories to be carried out.

 

Typical synthetic routes encountered involve reduction of the hydroxyl group in Ephedrine / Pseudoephedrine, commonly found in over the counter decongestants. The reduction can be facilitated by Hydroiodic (HI) that is generated from Iodine (I2), Water and Phosphorous (P). This is known as the red-phosphorous “cook” method. The other method, known as the birch method, involves using Lithium Metal and Ammonium Nitrate to facilitate the reduction. The reaction is shown below.


Lithium is typically obtained from Lithium batteries, and Phosphorous can found in flares, and matchbox striking plates. Iodine can be purchased from pharmacists/drug stores. The identification of these chemicals recovered from suspect laboratories can provide useful evidence in proving illicit drug manufacture. Here we show that the ECCO Elemental Composition Comparator can detect and identify lithium, phosphorous and iodine. Lithium with atomic number 3 is particularly difficult to detect by other analytical methods.

Lithium
 

Figure 1 - Spectra of Lithium metal from a battery and a thin film of Lithium hydroxide. The line broadening is due to a combination of self-absorption (for the bulk metal) and stark broadening.

Iodine
 

Figure 2 – solid Iodine shows a complex pattern of peaks in 500 – 560 nm range.

Phosphorous

Figure 3 – Phosphorous shows 2 prominent peaks in the UV spectral region, at 253.6 and 255.5 nm. The same peaks albeit weaker in intensity are visible in the spectrum of the match striker plate.

 

Discriminate Paint Chips

Discriminate Paint Chips using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Common methods for the forensic examination of paint chips involve physical examination, microspectrophotometry, FTIR, SEM-EDS. Here we show how LIBS can be used effectively in the forensic examination of paint.
LIBS spectra of small sections (< 1mm ) of paint from various sources were recorded. 10 one-shot spectra of each sample were averaged.
All LIBS spectra were acquired using the ECCO laser-induced breakdown spectrometer. This consisted of an air-cooled actively Q-switched flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG laser delivering 60 milliJoule, 7 nanosecond pulses of 1064 nm of laser radiation at a repetition rate of 0.5 Hz. The spectrometer range was 225 – 600 nm. The spectrometer contained 3 CMOS sensors. The gate delay between the laser firing and the CMOS sensors shutters opening was 1 microsecond.
All LIBS spectra were recorded in an Argon atmosphere, with a flow rate of approximately 6 liters/minute.
Spectra were compared qualitatively for the presence or absence of elements, such as Cr, Ba, Ti, Ca, Pb and Sr.

 

Below are the spectra from 4 different colored paints, including white, grey, red, blue and green.


Figure 1
Blue paints, showing the difference in the proportion of Calcium, Titanium, and Barium


 

Figure 2
Grey paints, showing the difference in the proportion of Calcium, Titanium, and Barium


 

Figure 4
Green paints, showing the difference in the proportion of Chromium, Barium, and Calcium.

Figure 5
Red paints, showing a difference in the proportion of Chromium, Calcium, Strontium, and Lead.

Screening for GSR

LIB Spectrometry for the detection of gunshot residues
 
Gunshot residue consisting of particles containing the elements Barium (Ba), Lead (Pb) and Antimony (Sb) are frequently found on the arms and clothing of a shooter after firearm discharge.
Both presumptive tests and SEM-EDX for imaging and elemental analysis of the particles are used for GSR detection.

 

Both these techniques have their pitfalls. Nitrate detection which is used in presumptive testing is found not to be very specific due to nitrates being nearly ubiquitous, being found in cosmetics, fertilizers and numerous other commercial products.
SEM-EDX is expensive and time-consuming and is not suited to screening a group of suspects quickly.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using the Foster+Freeman ECCO has been used to rapidly screen swabs from suspects hands for elements consistent with GSR, by detection of Barium and Lead. The spectrum below of GSR was taken recorded in less than 1 second, and clearly reveals peaks due to Barium and Lead – consistent with GSR.

Discriminating Glasses

LIBS can be used to identify many of the main elements present in the glass as well as minor and trace elements down to concentrations of low PPM. In addition, the ratios of the spectral peaks of minor and trace elements to those of the major elements are often effective in discriminating between glasses which cannot be separated by refractive index. LIBS is also a fast and effective technique for identifying glass type.
In this Application Note, we demonstrate the potential of the ECCO to differentiate between glass samples which cannot be distinguished by the measurement of RI alone.

Discriminating Pencil Lead

LIBS Analysis for the discrimination of pencil leads
Pencil lead is one of the more challenging evidence types encountered by the forensic document examiner.

 

The inorganic nature of the material means that traditional documents examination techniques such as the Video Spectral Comparison are not applicable.
The differences in the elemental composition of the lead between different brands mean that Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy is an applicable analytical method for discrimination of pencil lead.

Discriminating Match Heads

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry for the investigation of arson
One of the goals of the arson scene examiner is to link evidence found on the suspect to that found at the scene of crime.

Burnt match heads offer a source of evidence which may incriminate a suspect.

Discriminating Office Paper

LIBS analysis of paper
Office paper is one of the evidence types frequently encountered by forensic document examiners.

 

Traditional analysis methods such as UV induced fluorescence, are subjective and can be affected by factors such as the age of the paper and ream variation. Here we present a study utilizing the ECCO-DE laser-induced breakdown spectrometer, to analyze and discriminate A4 office paper based on its elemental composition.

Identifying Security Documents

Elemental comparison of security documents using LIBS
The most commonly applied method for the forensic examination of paper involves close visual inspection, possibly aided by the wide spectral range of the UV, IR and visible light sources in instruments such as the Foster + Freeman Video Spectral Comparator.

 

Recent studies have been reported, however, in which paper has been examined using elemental analysis techniques. These studies have measured trace elements such as barium and strontium, which occur as impurities in the calcium carbonate and other fillers used in the manufacture of the paper.
Security papers, however, tend to have a quite different composition to normal types of paper and are often devoid of optical brighteners. Instead, uncommon elements, such as manganese or titanium, may be present, either having been added intentionally or occurring incidentally as a constituent of colorants.
This Application Note shows the different elemental profiles of three different types of security paper.

Identifying Counterfeit Coins

The number of counterfeit £1 coins in circulation in the UK has risen steadily over the last few years, probably because of the ease with which coins can now be counterfeited compared with paper banknotes.
 

Whilst close visual inspection (inconsistencies in the date and design, poor quality of less prominent features, incorrect dimensional tolerances) can often be used to identify counterfeit coins, such methods are not entirely reliable.
Recent studies have been reported, however, in which counterfeit coins can be detected by elemental analysis. The presence or absence of specific trace elements can often distinguish genuine coins from counterfeit.

Hardware
  • Air cooled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with 1064nm emission
  • Wide wavelength range spectrometer 225-930nm
  • Wavelength resolution 0.14nm
  • CMOS detector with up to 60% Quantum efficiency
  • Integral CCD video camera with digital zoom
  • XYZ sample positioning/focusing stage
  • Interlocked sample chamber with full laser safety features
  • Argon feed
Software
  • Automatic identification of elements
  • Comparative display of spectra and peak ratios
  • Automatic measurement of peak statistics
  • A comprehensive library of element emission lines
  • Relative measurement of element concentrations
  • A bespoke graphic user interface provides complete control of the system
  • Native support for 32 and 64-bit Windows 7 operating system
  • Casework and research modes of operation

H

hydrogen

                               

 He

helium

Li

lithium

Be

beryllium

                   

B

boron 

C

carbon 

N

nitrogen 

O

oxygen 

F

fluorine 

Ne

neon 

Na

sodium

Mg

magnesium

                   

Al

aluminium

Si

silicon 

P

phosphorous

S

sulphur 

Cl

chlorine 

Ar

argon 

K

potassium

Ca

calcium

Sc

scandium

Ti

titanium

V

vanadium

Cr

chromium

Mn

manganese

Fe

iron

Co

cobalt

Ni

nickel

Cu

copper

Zn

zinc

Ga

galium

Ge

geremanium

As

arsenic

Se

selenium

Br

bromine

Kr

krypton

Rb

rubidium

Sr

stronium

Y

yttrium

Zr

zirconium 

Nb

niobium

Mo

molybdenum

Tc

technetium 

Ru

ruthenium

Rh

rhodium 

Pd

palladium 

Ag

silver

Cd

cadminium 

In

">indium

Sn

tin

Sb

antimoney

Te

tellurium

I

iodine 

 Xe

xenon

Cs

caesium

Ba

barium

 

Hf

hafnium 

Ta

tantalum

W

tungsten

Re

rhenium 

 Os

osminium

Ir

iridium 

Pt

platinum 

Au

gold 

Hg

mercury 

Tl

thallium

Pb

lead

Bi

bismuth

Po

polonium

 At

astatine

Rn

radon 

Fr

francium

Ra

radium

                               
   

La

lanthanum

Ce

cerium 

Pr

praseodymium

Nd

neodymium 

Pm

promethium 

Sm

samarium 

Eu

europium 

Gd

gadolinum 

Tb

terbium 

Dy

dysprosium 

Ho

holmium 

Re

erbium

Tm

thulium 

Yb

ytterbium 

Lu

lutetium 

 
   

Ac

actinium 

Th

thorium 

Pa

protactinium 

U

uranium 

Np

neptunium 

Pu

plutonium 

Am

americium 

Cm

curium 

Bk

berkelium

Cf

californium 

Es

einsteinium 

Fm

fermium 

Md

mendelevium 

 No

nobelium

Lr

lawrencium

Features

  • Rapid analysis
  • Automatic identification of elements
  • Minimal sample preparation
  • Minimal technical training required
  • Safety interlocked sample chamber

Technical Resources

FOR THE ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE BY LASER INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY

ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis

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ApplicationNote_1_ECCO

ECCO 2-Advanced Document Analysis

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ApplicationNote_4_ECCO

Forensic Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

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ApplicationNote_5_ECCO

Forensic Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

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ApplicationNote_7_ECCO

Forensic Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

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ApplicationNote_8_ECCO

Forensic Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

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ApplicationNote_9_ECCO

Forensic Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

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