Forensic glass characterisation using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectroscopy

Comparison of glass fragments by the Forensic Scientist is commonly effected through the study of Physical properties. Direct comparison of densities and refractive indices are the most widely used physical measurements because of reproducibility, sensitivity & applicability to small size. Characterisation of glass requires a combination of Physical and Chemical techniques that can be applied to very small fragments. In our study, Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) Spectrometry was utilized for the elemental analysis of glass samples and to find out their commonness.

This paper attempts to explain about the physical properties that reflect only the surface characteristics but the highly sophisticated ED-XRF reveals much information about the nature and origin of glass fragments by studying their compositional pattern. There are two possible advantages for doing this (i) the glass samples may be further characterized and (ii) they may be distinguishable.

In a typical murder case, small shiny fragments suspected to be glass recovered from the stomach after autopsy are compared with broken glass found at the scene of crime. Examination of this study is very much useful to find out the nature of glass and their similarity and to connect the evidence with the crime.