Stand-off imaging Raman spectroscopy for forensic analysis of post-blast scenes: trace detection of ammonium nitrate and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Ema Ceco; Hans Önnerud; Dennis Menning; John L. Gilljam; Petra Bååth; Henric Östmark

doi:10.1117/12.2049909

29 May 2014 Stand-off imaging Raman spectroscopy for forensic analysis of post-blast scenes: trace detection of ammonium nitrate and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Ema Ceco, Hans Önnerud, Dennis Menning, John L. Gilljam, Petra Bååth, Henric Östmark

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9073, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XV; 90730G (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049909
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

The following paper presents a realistic forensic capability test of an imaging Raman spectroscopy based demonstrator system, developed at FOI, the Swedish Defence Research Agency. The system uses a 532 nm laser to irradiate a surface of 25×25mm. The backscattered radiation from the surface is collected by an 8” telescope with subsequent optical system, and is finally imaged onto an ICCD camera. We present here an explosives trace analysis study of samples collected from a realistic scenario after a detonation. A left-behind 5 kg IED, based on ammonium nitrate with a TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) booster, was detonated in a plastic garbage bin. Aluminum sample plates were mounted vertically on a holder approximately 6 m from the point of detonation. Minutes after the detonation, the samples were analyzed with stand-off imaging Raman spectroscopy from a distance of 10 m. Trace amounts could be detected from the secondary explosive (ammonium nitrate with an analysis time of 1 min. Measurement results also indicated detection of residues from the booster (TNT). The sample plates were subsequently swabbed and analyzed with HPLC and GC-MS analyses to confirm the results from the stand-off imaging Raman system. The presented findings indicate that it is possible to determine the type of explosive used in an IED from a distance, within minutes after the attack, and without tampering with physical evidence at the crime scene.

Citation Download Citation

Ema Ceco, Hans Önnerud, Dennis Menning, John L. Gilljam, Petra Bååth, and Henric Östmark "Stand-off imaging Raman spectroscopy for forensic analysis of post-blast scenes: trace detection of ammonium nitrate and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene", Proc. SPIE 9073, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XV, 90730G (29 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049909

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