An Environmental Forensics Focus on Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Sample preparation in forensic science offers special challenges in that the sample matrix and the analytes change depending on the circumstances of the case. It is difficult to standardize the sample preparation step for many types of cases due to sample and matrix complexity and the total unknown nature of the target analytes present within the matrix. Secondly, the analytical results obtained from forensic samples often undergo rigorous legal scrutiny and challenges. As such, maintaining the integrity of the sample chain of custody should be considered during the sampling and sample preparation prior to analysis. Finally, for those sample matrices where the sample preparation can be standardized (i.e., fire debris analysis and toxicology), utmost care should be taken to minimize the possible interferents and maximize the analyte concentration to meet the analytical requirements.In this article, we discuss the nature and the types of forensic samples of interest, and recent developments and innovations in micro-sample preparation techniques in different disciplines within forensic science. We also discuss the future outlook of forensic sample preparation.