Non-destructive analysis of popular cigarette brands utilizing attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and chemometrics
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Abstract
Cigarettes have a long history in the United States, and remain popular to this day. Due to their prevalence in society, cigarettes are often discarded in public areas. This leads them to being found in many areas, including crime scenes. Since cigarettes are in proximity with biological fluid such as saliva, DNA analysis may be the first method used for forensic analysis. However, other methods of analysis, such as analysis of the various components that make up a cigarette, may also be useful. Cigarette butts are comprised of a filter that is enclosed in an outer wrapping paper that is inserted into the mouth. Additionally, when the cigarette butt is discarded, a small amount of burnt tobacco may remain in the cigarette butt. Although these components are shared among many cigarettes available on the market, there may be differences among the various brands and manufacturers that might make brand differentiation possible.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is a traditionally nondestructive, common instrumental approach employed in forensic chemistry, and is often employed in forensic analysis of trace evidence. Due to its ability of analyzing different sample matrices with a variety of techniques, infrared spectroscopy is highly effective at identifying the chemical composition of unknown samples. Popular techniques include Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and transmission FTIR. When combined with chemometrics, a mathematical approach to finding similarities and differences among samples, infrared analysis can be used to distinguish between samples and classify unknowns.
This research explores the possibility of utilizing various infrared analysis techniques and chemometric software in an effort to differentiate between cigarette brands. Ultimately, it was found that the methods used in this research could differentiate certain brands from each other, but could not differentiate between all the brands tested.
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2024