Date of Award

5-1-2021

Language

English

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

Department of Chemistry

Content Description

1 online resource (iv, 20 pages) : color illustrations.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Igor Lednev

Committee Members

Alexander Shekhtman, Alan Chen

Keywords

ATR FT-IR, Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, Human Hair, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Hair, Hair dyes, Chemistry, Forensic, Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Subject Categories

Analytical Chemistry

Abstract

IR spectroscopy is widely utilized for forensic purposes due to the chemical fingerprint the method provides. ATR FT-IR spectroscopy is particularly advantageous because it allows for spectra to be collected quickly, accurately, and perhaps most importantly for forensics, non-destructively. Human hair is commonly collected at a crime scene, and further analyzed using DNA analysis and microscopy. However, these techniques have limitations. In the past ATR FT-IR spectroscopy has shown promise in the analysis of human hair for forensic purposes. In this study, the differentiation of undyed hair versus dyed hair classes of varying colors based on their IR spectra were investigated. The ability to classify dyed hair is important as there are documented cases where an individual is kidnapped, and the perpetrator dyes the victim’s hair in an attempt to evade capture.

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