Forensic examination of Australian papers using isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Jones, Kylie Marie
dc.date.accessioned	2016-09-19T04:51:42Z
dc.date.available	2016-09-19T04:51:42Z
dc.date.issued	2016
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/52711
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_AU
dc.description.abstract	Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) has been shown to be a useful tool in the comparison of materials that are chemically identical or have been naturally produced. Based on this, and noting the capability gaps within the Forensic Document Examination field, the measurement of carbon and oxygen isotopic abundance values using IRMS has been developed as a technique for the examination of document papers. Through validation of the inter- and intra-ream variability of papers, appropriate guidelines for comparison and discrimination have been constructed, to ensure the technique is robust and accurate. Through the measurement of a background population of 125 papers, 89% of samples collected from within Australia and New Zealand were discriminated using pair-wise comparisons. The IRMS results were placed in a broader context, through the use of a range of light, physical and chemical techniques. Based on these results, an examination and interpretation protocol was defined and tested through the use of a range of scenarios in a blind trial. All results within the blind trials were correct, demonstrating that the examination, comparison and reporting structure defined was accurate, robust and fit for purpose. As a result of this project, a paper examination protocol which is operationally relevant to Australian law enforcement has been developed and validated and is ready for use in forensic casework examinations.	en_AU
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_AU	en_AU
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/52711/2/02whole.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.subject	Australian papers.	en
dc.subject	Forensic examination.	en
dc.subject	Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS).	en
dc.subject	Paper examination protocol.	en
dc.subject	Blind trials.	en
dc.subject	Examination structure is accurate.	en
dc.title	Forensic examination of Australian papers using isotope ratio mass spectrometry	en_AU
dc.type	Thesis	en_AU
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) has been shown to be a useful tool in the comparison of materials that are chemically identical or have been naturally produced. Based on this, and noting the capability gaps within the Forensic Document Examination field, the measurement of carbon and oxygen isotopic abundance values using IRMS has been developed as a technique for the examination of document papers. Through validation of the inter- and intra-ream variability of papers, appropriate guidelines for comparison and discrimination have been constructed, to ensure the technique is robust and accurate. Through the measurement of a background population of 125 papers, 89% of samples collected from within Australia and New Zealand were discriminated using pair-wise comparisons. The IRMS results were placed in a broader context, through the use of a range of light, physical and chemical techniques. Based on these results, an examination and interpretation protocol was defined and tested through the use of a range of scenarios in a blind trial. All results within the blind trials were correct, demonstrating that the examination, comparison and reporting structure defined was accurate, robust and fit for purpose. As a result of this project, a paper examination protocol which is operationally relevant to Australian law enforcement has been developed and validated and is ready for use in forensic casework examinations.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/52711