Discrimination of arsenous acids with comparison of trace elements contained by using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

• Published in: Forensic science international 2005-02, Vol.148 (1), p.55-59
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Shinichi, Suzuki, Yasuhiro, Ohta, Hikoto, Sugita, Ritsuko, Kasamatsu, Masaaki, Marumo, Yoshiteru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Analysis; Arsenic compounds; Authentic arsenous acid samples; Biological and medical sciences; Discrimination; Forensic sciences; General aspects; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Poisonous material; Poisons; Synchrotron; Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectrometry; X-ray spectroscopy; X-rays
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.04.079

In the poisonous incident case occurred in Japan, clarification of the identity between seized poisons and retrieved from crime scene is strictly required from the court. In this case, arsenous acid was used as a poisonous material and, seized one from suspect’s house was only twenty particles. The synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectrometry by comparing the intensity ratios of Lα line of four heavy metal, such as Bi, Sn, Sb, Se to Kβ line of As was performed to overcome this problem. In this paper, the evaluation of this new method using 13 authentic arsenous acid samples, 4 of 13 were refined by Chinese method, 7 of 13 were refined by Japanese method (Sumitomo mining Co. Ltd. method), 2 of 13 were refined by German and Swiss method. As a result, by the comparison of the ratios of these four elements to As, these 13 samples were clearly classified to three products classes produced by different refining methods.