Fire Debris Analysis: Ignitable Liquid Chromatogram Library Search Strategies
Previous attempts at the evaluation of chromatographic data for forensic fire debris samples have been unsuccessful in addressing the evaporation and pyrolysis products common in real world samples. Initial work on data processing has shown that chemically targeted metrics successfully ad08/09/2010k is extending these results to other ignitable liquids, pyrolysis products, sampling effects, and instrument variations.
This is a collaborative project with criminalists in the California BFS Fresno Regional Crime Laboratory.
Crime Scenes: Volume Estimation in Clandestine Laboratory Investigations
The conditions in clandestine laboratory sites and the hazardous nature of many of the materials limit the volume measurement techniques available to investigators. We are interested in understanding the uncertainty in volume estimations made at these sites and in identifying practices that can improve the quality of these estimations.
This is a collaborative project with Dr. Paul Price in the Psychology Department.
Clandestine Laboratories: Pseudoephedrine Derivatives in Methamphetamine Laboratory Casework
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are routinely used as precursors in the illicit synthesis of methamphetamine. Several derivatives form from pseudoephedrine and ephedrine in the presence of aldehydes and ketones such as acetone. This project aims to establish the structure of these derivatives and gather the reference data needed to allow forensic chemists to conclusively identify these compounds in clandestine laboratory casework.
This is a collaborative project with criminalists in the Fresno Regional Crime Laboratory.
Clandestine Laboratories: Bio-Diesel Laboratories
The manufacture of bio-diesel produces samples and waste that can potentially be mistaken for clandestine laboratories by first-responders. This project seeks to generate analytical profiles of samples taken from the bio-diesel manufacturing process as a reference for clandestine laboratory analysts.
Enology: Quantification of Microbial Grape Rot
The amount of microbial rot on grapes affects the price growers can receive when they are sold to wineries. In this collaborative project we are working with Dr. Roy Thorton and Dr. Susan Rodriguez in the Enology Department to develop an objective method for quantifying the amount of grape rot at sugar stands.