U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Development of a turnkey analytical system for the forensic comparison and identification of fiber dyes on casework-sized fibers
Award Information
Awardee
              Microtrace LLC
Award #
              2012-DN-BX-K042
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Elgin, IL
Awardee County
              Kane
Congressional District
              6
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2012
Total funding (to date)
              $501,920
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 12 Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2012, $501,920)
At present, forensic fiber dye analysis is performed by empirical comparison methods that are not supported by chemical identification of the dyestuffs present on the fibers. The research and development project proposed here is intended to utilize the simple and inexpensive technique of TLC to separate the dyes, followed by microchemical methods to isolate and identify the separated dye spots using a dyestuff database containing infrared, solution, fluorescence and SERS spectra of at least 300 commercially important dyestuffs. Case-work experience has shown that dyes can be extracted and separated by TLC from fibers as short as 5 mm. Existing microchemical techniques for extracting these dyes from the separated spots will optimized so the crystalline residue of the extract can be analyzed by micro-FTIR spectroscopy and solution Spectrophotometry by uv-vis microspectrophotometry (MSP). Both of these analytical instruments are already found in virtually every laboratory in the U.S. that performs fiber comparisons. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra collected from the dyes in situ on the TLC plate will also be obtained as this simple method is likely to gain traction as increasing numbers of laboratories obtain Raman spectrometers. The analytical data from these instruments lifts TLC from a method of separation and comparison to a method of separation and identification. The analytical data obtained from these instruments would, at present however, be of little practical value since no database of infrared, Raman or solution spectrophotometry exists. One major aspect of this project is; therefore, the preparation of a spectral database of 300 authentic dyestuffs to which this data can be compared and identified. Our in-house collection of over 5,500 dyes with accompanying C.I. designations -- many of which consist of the same dye produced by known manufacturers will be characterized to build this database. In addition, we will use our reference collection of dyed fibers from manufacturers' shade cards (fabrics and yarns of all the major man-made fibers as well as wool and cotton dyed by the fiber manufacturers or according to their exact specifications) to develop and test the dye extraction, TLC separation, recovery and analysis techniques. The final products will include: 1. A comprehensive final "Guide to Identification of Dyes in Fibers" that summarizes all of the experimental data collected, the optimized techniques, and the scientific basis for these methods. The methods and validation will be provided in a format that conforms to ISO 17025 guidelines, to encourage adaptation by laboratories. 2. A comprehensive final report that summarizes all of the experimental data collected, all of the techniques designed and perfected and lays the scientific foundation for the procedure that will be presented. 3. The most extensive database of dyes ever created for forensic purposes consisting of FTIR, MSP, and SERS data collected from 300 dyes of traceable origin identified by chemical name. ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      A Generalized Approach to Forensic Dye Identification: Development and Utility of Reference Libraries
                  Reproducibility of High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) in Textile Dye Analysis
                  A Survey of Extraction Solvents in the Forensic Analysis of Textile Dyes
                  Development of an Analytical System for the Forensic Comparison and Identification of Fiber Dyes on Casework-Sized Fibers
                  Capillary Microspectrophotometry of Some Selected Dyed Fibers and Hairs

  
Date Created: August 27, 2012
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Community-Led Learning: A Collaborative Approach to Training and Technical Assistance for Violent Crime Problem Analyses
                  Quantification of psychotropic cannabinoids in newly emerging hemp-derived products and evaluation of their stability and interconversion during storage
                  Meeting the Ongoing, Urgent, Unmet Needs of Uvalde Residents After the Robb Elementary School Shooting
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov