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                            Library & Multimedia
 Reproducibility of High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) in Textile Dye Analysis
NCJ Number
              253241
Journal

*Forensic Chemistry* Volume: 8 Dated: May 2018 Pages: 104-110
Author(s)
          Ethan Groves;
                        Skip Palenik;
                        Christopher S. Palenik
Date Published

May 2018
Length
              7 pages
Annotation
              Based on the study of a six component test dye mixture developed on over 50 high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates, the effects of several critical variables that affect reproducibility and resolution were assessed in this study, including plate selection, pre-elution, tank saturation, developing distance, and eluent stability.
Abstract
              In the forensic comparison of dyed fibers, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is one of the few analytical techniques that have proven sensitive enough to detect and separate the minute quantities of dyestuffs present in single fibers. The method has become well-established by trace evidence examiners as a means of further distinguishing fibers whose colors appear to be the same by both comparison microscopy and microspectrophotometry. As practiced at present, the forensic analysis of dyes is limited to a comparison of the separated dye bands from known and questioned fibers performed on the same TLC plate. It is recognized, however, that retardation factor (Rf) alone is not sufficient proof of identity. The limited use of investigative TLC analysis in forensic fiber examinations is due in part to the range of uncontrolled or poorly defined variables that affect the reproducibility of the developed plate. When considered collectively, the results of this research provide a means for acquiring and archiving repeatable data, both from casework and known reference samples collected on different plates and at different times. These provide a pathway for the development and utilization of reference databases for the identification of dyes. The empirical uncertainty established for the generalized separation procedure used in this research provides objective guidance for evaluating the significance of associations (or eliminations) made on the basis Rf. Ultimately, this research also opens a pathway to the use of forensic dye analysis as an investigative tool, rather than one exclusively restricted to comparative analyses. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2012-DN-BX-K042


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Development of a turnkey analytical system for the forensic comparison and identification of fiber dyes on casework-sized fibers
    
  
  
Date Published: May 1, 2018
    
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