Journal
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
Volume 179, Issue 2-3, Pages 157-162Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.05.015
Keywords
explosives synthesis; isotope; fractionation; Forensic; precursor/product relationship
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In criminal proceedings involving illegally manufactured substances, evidence demonstrating the manufacture is required for successful prosecution. In many circumstances the presence of manufacturing equipment and 'recipes' are clear indicators. However estabilishing chemical links between starting materials and products would be beneficial additional evidence in such circumstances. Isotope analysis is becoming more commonly employed in disputes over authenticity and provenance of materials such as food stuffs or pharmaceuticals [S. Benson, C. Lennard, P. Maynard, C. Roux, Forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry-a review, Forensic Sci. Int., 157 (2006) 1-22]. We report here the results of an isotope study investigating a link between hexamine used as a starting material and the product explosive RDX, manufactured using the Woolwich process. Isotopic composition of hexamine and RDX was analysed by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Five different hexamine samples were selected from a group of eleven for use in this study. One of the five hexamine samples was used twice. providing data on the reproducibility of the synthesis. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of the hexamine starting material and RDX products reveals a reproducible relationship between reactant and product. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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