Forensic Analysis of Accelerant (Aerosol) On Different Conditions and Fabrics Using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) And Chemometrics Techniques

Abstract

Arson investigation is a critical aspect of forensic science, often relying on the detection and analysis of accelerants used to initiate fires. Aerosol accelerants are particularly challenging to identify due to their volatile nature and rapid evaporation. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is a powerful, non-destructive analytical technique that can provide detailed chemical information about trace evidence. When combined with chemometric techniques, which use statistical and mathematical methods to extract relevant information from complex datasets, ATR-FTIR can potentially offer improved sensitivity and specificity in accelerant detection. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ATR-FTIR coupled with chemometric analysis in identifying aerosol accelerants on different fabric types and under various environmental conditions.