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OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Cross-validation of current and new micro-XRF technology for the forensic 

analysis of modern glass

Keyword(s): Glass, X-ray Fluorescence, validation, databases, elemental analysis 

Submitting subcommittee(s): Trace Materials Date Approved: September 19, 2023

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

The elemental analysis of glass provides valuable information in the comparison of glass evidence. Micro Xray Fluorescence has shown to be a valid analytical technique for the comparison of the elemental 

composition of glass, and a standard test method is now available to forensic examiners. 

LA-ICP-MS and micro- XRF are recognized as the most informative tools for forensic glass comparisons. 

Nonetheless, the most extensive existing glass databases have been built primarily with ICP data (ICP-MS, 

ICP-OES, and LA-ICP-MS). It will be useful for the XRF-users to generate larger collection datasets that 

include modern glass compositions to expand the current knowledge on XRF-elemental profiles of glass, 

evaluate the potential of sharing databases among laboratories, and use alternative probabilistic 

interpretation approaches. 

Moreover, in recent years modern micro-XRF systems are employing SDD detectors instead of the 

traditional SiLi detectors as they are anticipated to be more sensitive and precise. The comparison among 

systems currently available at crime laboratories will provide an essential body of knowledge to evaluate 

the performance of SiLi and SDD detectors under the current ASTM standard method E2926-17.

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

Members of the glass task group are currently working on addressing this research need.

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

1. Almirall J, Trejos T. Advances in the Forensic Analysis of Glass Fragments with a Focus on Refractive Index and Elemental 

Analysis. Forensic Science Review 2006,18(2):73–96. 

2. Almirall J, Trejos T. Analysis of Glass Evidence. In: Siegel JA, editor. Forensic Chemistry Fundamentals and Applications. 

Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015; 228–72. 

3. ASTM E2330-12. Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using 

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons, ASTM International, Vol 14.02 

4. ASTM E2926-17. Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) 

Spectrometry, ASTM International, Vol 14.02 
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5. ASTM E2927-16. Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using Laser 

Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons, ASTM International, Vol 14.02 

6. Becker S, Gunaratnam L, Hicks T, Stoecklein W, Warman G. The differentiation of float glass using refractive index and 

elemental analysis: Comparisons of techniques. Problems of Forensic Science, Vol. 47, 2001, 80-92. 

7. Corzo, R, Hoffman, T, Weis, P, Franco-Pedroso, J, Ramos D, Almirall J. The use of LA-ICP-MS databases to calculate 

likelihood ratios for the forensic analysis of glass evidence. Talanta, 186, 2018, 655-661. 

8. Curran JM, Hicks TN, Bucketon JS. Forensic interpretation of glass evidence. Taylor & Francis, 2000. 

9. Curran JM, Triggs CM, Buckleton JS, Walsh KAJ, Hicks T. Assessing transfer probabilities in a Bayesian interpretation of 

forensic glass evidence. Science & Justice 38(1), 1998, 15–21. 

10. Curran, J. M., Triggs, C. M., Almirall, J. R., Buckleton, J. S., and Walsh, K. A. J., “The interpretation of elemental 

composition measurements from forensic glass evidence: I,” Science and Justice, Vol. 37, 1997, pp. 241-244. 

11. Dorn H, Ruddle DE, Heydon A, Burton B. Discrimination of float glass by LA-ICP-MS: assessment of exclusion criteria using 

casework samples. Can. Soc. Forensic Science, 2015, Vol 48, 2, 2015, 85-96. 

12. Duckworth DC, Baynes CK, Morton SJ, Almirall JR. Analysis of variance in forensic glass analysis by ICP-MS: Variance 

within the method. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 15, 2000, 821-828. 

13. Duckworth DC, Morton S, Baynes C, Koons RD, Montero S, Almirall JR. Forensic glass analysis by ICP-MS: A multi-element 

assessment of discriminating power via analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons, Journal of Analytical Atomic 

Spectrometry, Vol. 17, 2002, 662-668. 

14. Dudley RJ, Howden CR, Taylor TJ, Smalldon KW. The discrimination and classification of small fragments of window and 

non-window glasses using energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-Ray Spectrometry, Vol. 9, Issue 3, 1980, 

119-122. 

15. Evett IW, Buckleton J. The interpretation of glass evidence: A practical approach. Journal of the Forensic Science Society, 

Vol. 30, 1990, 215-223. 

16. Hicks T, Monard Sermier F, Goldmann T, Brunelle A, Champo C, Margot P. The classification and discrimination of glass 

fragments using non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray μ fluorescence. Forensic Science International, Vol. 137, 2003, 

107-118. 

17. Koons RD, Peters CA, Rebbert PS. Comparison of refractive index, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and inductively 

coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry for forensic characterization of sheet glass fragments. Journal of 

Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 6, 1991, 451-456. 

18. Naes BE, Umpierrez S, Ryland S, Barnett C, Almirall JR. A comparison of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass 

spectrometry, micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for the discrimination 

of automotive glass. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 

19. Ryland SG. Discrimination of flat (sheet) glass specimens having similar refractive indices using micro X-ray fluorescence 

spectrometry. Journal of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners, Vol. 2, 2011, 2-12. 

20. Suzuki Y, Sugita R, Suzuki S, Marumo Y. Forensic discrimination of bottle glass by refractive index measurement and 

analysis of trace elements with ICP-MS. Analytical Sciences, Vol. 16, 2000, 1195-1198. 

21. T Ernst, T Berman, J Buscaglia, T Eckert-Lumsdon, C Hanlon, K Olsson, C Palenick, S Ryland, T Trejos, M Valdez and JR 

Amirall. Signal-to-noise ratios in forensic glass analysis by micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-Ray Spectrometry, 

2014, DOI: 10.1002/xrs.2437 

22. Trejos T, Koons R, Becker S, et al. Cross-validation and evaluation of the performance of methods for the elemental 

analysis of forensic glass by μ-XRF, ICP-MS, and LA-ICP-MS. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 405, 2013, 5393-5409. 

23. Trejos T, Koons R, Weis P et al. Forensic analysis of glass by μ-XRF, SN-ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS and LA-ICP-OES: evaluation of 

the performance of different criteria for comparing elemental composition. J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 28, 2013, 1270-1282. 

24. Trejos T, Almirall, JR. Sampling strategies for the analysis of glass fragments by LA-ICP-MS Part I. Micro-homogeneity 

study of glass and its application to the interpretation of forensic evidence, Talanta, Vol. 67, Issue 2, 2005, 388-395. 

25. Trejos T, Montero S, Almirall JR. Analysis and comparison of glass fragments by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma 

mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and ICP-MS. Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 376 (8), 2003, 1255–64. 

26. Walsh KA, Buckleton J, Triggs CM. A practical example of the interpretation of glass evidence. Science and Justice, Vol. 

36, 1996, 213-218. 

27. Weis P, Dücking M, Watzke P, Menges S, Becker S. Establishing a match criterion in forensic comparison analysis of float 

glass using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 26, 2011, 1273-1284. 

28. Zadora G, Ramos D. Evaluation of glass samples for forensic purposes — An application of likelihood ratios and an 

information–theoretical approach. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems 2010;102(2), 63–83. 
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4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

Yes, this relates to the NIJ research need “Development and validation of standardized forensic methods 

and conclusions.”

5. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

LA-ICP-MS and micro- XRF are recognized as the most informative tools for forensic glass comparisons. 

Although LA-ICP-MS is considered the “gold standard” due to its superior performance, relatively more 

crime laboratories have access to XRF instrumentation compared to LA-ICP-MS systems due to lower costs 

of acquisition, ease of use, and straightforward data processing, while still providing high discrimination 

among glass sources. 

Expanding current research on micro- XRF will provide greater support to forensic examiners to defend their 

results in court. In particular, a useful body of knowledge can be provided by 1) expanding current studies 

on the variation of XRF elemental composition of glass in modern formulations (within-sources, betweensources, and instrumental variation) and 2) extending studies to evaluate the analytical performance of 

novel XRF detection technology.

6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

At the subcommittee level, these types of research would provide additional support to the interpretation 

and report writing guidelines that are being developed for glass evidence and trace materials in general. 

7. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

Increasing the existing body of knowledge on micro-XRF technology for the forensic analysis of glass would 

allow more efficient use of resources at crime laboratories, and the future application of probabilistic 

interpretation approaches to support the examiner's opinion in court. 

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): IV

Major gap in 

current 

knowledge

Minor gap in 

current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research is 

being conducted I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted II IV
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This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.