Rapid forensic chemical classification of confiscated flash banger fireworks using capillary electrophoresis

• Published in: Forensic chemistry 2019-12, Vol.16, p.100187, Article 100187
• Main Authors: Bezemer, Karlijn D.B., van Duin, Lara V.A., Martín-Alberca, Carlos, Somsen, Govert W., Schoenmakers, Peter J., Haselberg, Rob, van Asten, Arian C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capillary electrophoresis; Fireworks; Flash bangers; Flash powder; Pyrotechnics
• ISSN: 2468-1709; 2468-1709
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100187

[Display omitted] •Rapid CE analysis of flash and black powder in Cobra 6 flash bangers.•Characterization of both anions and cations present in pyrotechnic charges.•Limited variation is observed between seized sets of commercial flash bangers.•Cation traces serve as markers for Cobra 6 imitation items. In the Netherlands, the illegal use of powerful flash bangers is popular and as a result these items are frequently encountered in forensic casework. In collaboration with the Dutch police a representative sample set of the most frequently confiscated flash bangers, the Cobra 6 and Cobra 6 2G, has previously been collected also including imitation items. Classification of the different flash bangers was performed by analysing the pyrotechnic charge using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with indirect UV-detection. Two rapid CE methods were used to determine the anions and cations present in the pyrotechnic mixtures. Black and flash powders were easily distinguishable based on their main inorganic compositions, i.e., KNO3 and KClO4, respectively. Differentiation of flash powders from the commercial and imitation pyrotechnic items was achieved by the identification of Ca2+ and Mg2+ cation traces in the imitation flash banger powders. Quantitative CE results were used to explore the possibilities to differentiate seized sets of flash bangers but this proved to be difficult for commercial items due to lack of impurities and uniform production processes. In addition, inherent inhomogeneity of the powders and incomplete sample extraction yielded a relative high measurement uncertainty within a set. For the imitation items potential for set-based differentiation was observed. Although the number of seized imitation sets was limited, a first step has been taken to classify pyrotechnic mixtures to provide additional information and intelligence in forensic casework of flash bangers.