Sarah Glenn and Dr. Godfrey

Due to the variety of different methods used to commit arson, identifying the accelerant used poses a challenge for investigators. In order to help combat this issue, gasoline samples taken from the Oxford, MS area were analyzed in order to understand the effect evaporation has on the gas chromatogram results of samples evaporated to predetermined levels using an internal standard of Di-n-Decyl Sulfide.

Three grades of gasoline from two different gasoline stations with octane ratings of 87, 89, and 93 with an added internal standard Di-n-Decyl Sulfide were analyzed using a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer.

The use of an internal standard allows for the comparison of compound abundance in samples that can lead towards origin identification. The purpose of using two different gasoline stations is that each gas station uses a different makeup of gasoline during production, and analysis of the chromatograms can differentiate these differences.

This study confirms the hypothesis that by using the internal standard Di-n-Decyl Sulfide and the changes that occur in the gas chromatograms of gasoline samples that are evaporated, forensic chemists can assist arson investigators by determining fuel grades, sample origins (gas stations), and gasoline evaporation levels.

Brandon Stamper, Waseem Gul, Murrell Godfrey, Shahbaz W. Gul, and Mahmoud A. ElSohly

Prescription pain killers, like fentanyl, merperidine, and tramadol, and heroin substitutes like EDDP and methodone, are widely abused drugs nationwide. Using the study done by Gerrity et al. as a base for the experiment, wastewater from Oxford, MS and from the University of Mississippi was tested for the drugs and their corresponding metabolites during game day and non-game day weekends using LC-MS-MS.

The results determined that tramadol was used both at the University of Mississippi and in the City of Oxford on both game day and non-game day weekends. Merperidine and it’s metabolite were found at low detection levels only in the Oxford community. On game days against ULL and the University of Tennessee showed a noticeable increase in methadone on campus. Fentanyl and PCP were not found in any samples.

Understanding which drugs are in use in a community can help police target and monitor drug use to help enforcement. This is the third study of wastewater completed in Oxford, MS and more research on the subject is in the works.

Dr. James Cizidziel and Oscar Black

“Advances in 3D printing have resulted in an emerging class of firearms that we know almost nothing about, forensically speaking. Printed plastic guns and bullets are of concern to public safety because they can potentially go undetected by metal detectors into high security areas, and to the criminal justice because they do not bear serial numbers.”

“The purpose of this study was to determine whether [ABS] polymers could be readily detected in gunshot residue (GSR) and cartridge cases using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS).”

“Ethyl centralite, benzoic acid, and diphenyl-amine, commonly found in firearms propellants, were readily detected on the bullet and cartridge case… Samples also gave DART-MS is characteristic of the exact primers [ABS, PLA, etc.] used in the gun barrel.”

“Based on these positive initial results, we have recently submitted a major proposal to the National Institute of Justice. Our ultimate goal is to provide law enforcement tools that can be used to strengthen a case linking a 3D printed gun to be a crime.”