Abstract
A block of an injury instrument will be left in wounds sometimes, and the suspect instrument can be discriminated by comparison with the block that was left through elemental analysis. In this study, three brands (Shibazi, Zhangxiaoquan, Qiaoxifu) of kitchen knives with forged, chop, and slice application series were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Infrared Absorption to investigate the type, number of elements and the reference range used for comparing. The results show that when regarding one or more element as the discriminative threshold, together with 5 % relative standard deviation (RSD) as the reference range, all the samples could be distinguished among different series. Furthermore, within the same series, the discriminative capability could reach up to 88.57 % for all samples. In addition, elements with high content, such as Cr, Mn, and C, were useful to discriminate among different series, and trace elements, such as Ni, Si, and Cu, were useful within the same series. However, in practice, it is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of the method by Standard Reference Material (SRM) before an examination is performed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Capuani C, Rouquette J, Payre B et al (2012) Deciphering the elusive nature of sharp bone trauma using epifluorescence macroscopy: a comparison study multiplexing classical imaging approaches. Int J Legal Med. [Epub ahead of print]
Gibelli D, Brandone A, Andreola S et al (2010) Macroscopic, microscopic, and chemical assessment of gunshot lesions on decomposed pig skin. J Forensic Sci 55:1092–1097
Ferllini R (2012) Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of knife stab wounds on fleshed and clothed ribs. J Forensic Sci 57:683–690
Pounder DJ, Reeder FD (2011) Striation patterns in serrated blade stabs to cartilage. Forensic Sci Int 208:91–94
Bai R, Wan L, Li H et al (2007) Identify the injury implements by SEM/EDX and ICP-AES. Forensic Sci Int 166:8–13
Vermeij EJ, Zoon PD, Chang SB et al (2012) Analysis of microtraces in invasive traumas using SEM/EDS. Forensic Sci Int 214:96–104
Gibelli D, Mazzarelli D, Porta D et al (2012) Detection of metal residues on bone using SEM-EDS-Part II: Sharp force injury. Forensic Sci Int 223:91–96
Sitiene R, Zakaras A, Pauliukevicius A et al (2007) Morphologic, experimental-comparative investigation as an identification of the injuring instrument method. Forensic Sci Int 167:255–260
Vermeij E, Duvalois W, Webb R et al (2009) Morphology and composition of pyrotechnic residues formed at different levels of confinement. Forensic Sci Int 186:68–74
Wang Y, Zhao CM, Wang Q et al (2012) [Inspection of left metal particles on skin impacted by the steel hammers]. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 28:185–187
Lettington W (2000) Stabbing to right temple with partial knife blade retention: differentiating stab from slash wound. J Clin Forensic Med 7:45–47
Davis NL, Kahana T, Hiss J (2004) Souvenir knife: a retained transcranial knife blade. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 25:259–261
Turillazzi E, Monaci F, Neri M et al (2010) Collection of trace evidence of explosive residues from the skin in a death due to a disguised letter bomb. The synergy between confocal laser scanning microscope and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer analyses. Forensic Sci Int 197:e7–e12
Schenk ER, Almirall JR (2012) Elemental analysis of glass by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (LA-ICP-OES). Forensic Sci Int 217:222–228
Mahmood N, Petraco N, He Y (2012) Elemental fingerprint profile of beer samples constructed using 14 elements determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS): multivariation analysis and potential application to forensic sample comparison. Anal Bioanal Chem 402:861–869
Udey RN, Hunter BC, Smith RW (2011) Differentiation of bullet type based on the analysis of gunshot residue using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Forensic Sci 56:1268–1276
Chen YY, Zhang JH, Ma D et al (2010) [Detection of metal elements of skin in electric injury by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry]. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 26:6–9
Scheid N, Becker S, Ducking M et al (2009) Forensic investigation of brick stones using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). Appl Radiat Isot 67:2128–2132
Jantzi SC, Almirall JR (2011) Characterization and forensic analysis of soil samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Anal Bioanal Chem 400:3341–3351
Castro W, Trejos T, Naes B et al (2008) Comparison of high-resolution and dynamic reaction cell ICP-MS capabilities for forensic analysis of iron in glass. Anal Bioanal Chem 392:663–672
Ulrich A, Moor C, Vonmont H et al (2004) ICP-MS trace-element analysis as a forensic tool. Anal Bioanal Chem 378:1059–1068
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No.30801319, 81172902), and the Program for Young Innovative Research Team in China University of Political Science and Law.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bai, Rf., Ma, Sh., Zhang, Hd. et al. Forensic discrimination of three common brands of kitchen knives in China by ICP-AES and infrared absorption. Int J Legal Med 128, 353–360 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-013-0829-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-013-0829-4