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| Author(s): |
Maiara Oliveira Salles
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) |
| Defense date: | 2011-08-26 |
| Examining board members: |
Mauro Bertotti;
Silvia Maria Leite Agostinho;
Lucio Angnes;
Tiago Luiz Ferreira;
Rodrigo Alejandro Abarza Muñoz
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| Advisor: | Mauro Bertotti |
| Abstract | |
Two different methodologies were developed to analyze lead from gunshot residues (GSR) with a gold microelectrode: modification of the electrode surface with a bismuth film in alkaline solution (pH = 13) and use of an unmodified gold microelectrode in acidic media with chloride. GSR were collected from cloth targets and shooters\' hand after test firing. From the targets, a region close to the bullet hole was cutted off. GSR were removed from the shooters\' hand using a cotton swab embedded in a 2% (m/v) EDTA solution. The target and the cotton swab were placed in a steril vial containing 10 mL of a 10% (m/m) HNO3 solution to extract the GSR. Then, all vials were placed in the ultrasound for 2 hours at 60°C. Samples from the targets were analyzed with a gold microelectrode modified with a bismuth film in alkaline solution by anodic stripping voltammetry with a detection limit of 12.5 nmol L-1 (3σ/slope), linear range between 40 and 6700 nmol L-1 and a relative standard deviation of 3.4% (n = 12). Two different handguns (pistoll 9 mm and a revolver 0.38 inches) and tree different ammunition (normal, spl® and CleanRange®) were analyzed and the lead amount was dependent on the gun and ammunition used in the tests. An increase in the amount of lead from the GSR was observed as the distance between the shooter and the target decreased. Lead analyses were also performed in the extraction solution with bare gold microelectrodes in the presence of chloride ions. In this case, the detection limit was 1.7 nmol L-1 (3σ/slope), the linear range lied between 10 and 100 nmol L-1 and the relative standard deviation for 10 measurements was 2.5%. GSR residues form four different guns (revolver 0.38 inches, 12 caliber pump, a repeating rifle 0.38 and a semi automatic .22 caliber rifle) and six different ammunitions (CleanRange®, normal, semi jacketed, 3T®, Eley® and CBC®) were analyzed. The results obtained with the proposed methodology were compared with those from atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis and the paired t-test student indicated that there was no significant difference between the results obtained with both methods at a 95% confidence level. A chemometric analysis was also performed and the results showed the possibility to discriminate the guns and the ammunitions used. Metallic flms formed onto the electrode surface were studied by using Scanning Electrochemial Microscopy (SECM), Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). The deposition of bismuth, lead and bismuth/lead films in alkaline solution is heterogeneous and the films react with oxygen and ferricyanide. In acidic media, the presence of chloride ions in the depositing solution causes an increase in the film roughness and facilitates the lead film dissolution (AU) | |