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EU research results

CORDIS

Chemical Profiling of Inorganic and Pyrotechnic Explosives

Fact Sheet

Reporting

Results

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands

Objective

The criminal law system has shown interest in the recent scientific developments with respect to chemical profiling of explosives. This approach goes beyond explosive material chemical identification, providing key intelligence to a counter-terrorism or forensic investigation on the basis of chemical clues in the form of impurities and degradation products. Explosive profiling can reveal relationships between samples obtained from a crime scene and material associated with a suspect. If such profiles can be linked to the production process and the raw materials used such intelligence information can even assist law enforcement in stopping attacks from being successfully executed. However, explosive profiling is challenging since it requires suitable analytical strategies, unbiased interpretation of the results, substantial sample collections and comprehensive knowledge on the chemical variation of explosives, precursors and environmental background levels. The main research objective of the PyroProf project is to offer suitable analytical tools for the chemical profiling of inorganic explosives of forensic interest (e.g., ammonium nitrate based and pyrotechnic mixtures) for their use in forensic casework. This project will yield selective sampling strategies, novel separation methodologies by state-of-the-art CE-MS and IC-MS instruments, complementary statistical approaches and databases with further knowledge on explosive, precursor, and background compositions useful for forensic interpretation. This outcome will benefit the experienced researcher to boost his career as a professional researcher in the analytical and forensic chemistry fields as well as will have impact on the European society since the results will be disseminated and used to/by scientific and forensic communities, improving the criminal justice system and the public awareness of the safety and security issued associated with the use of certain explosives (e.g., legal/illegal consumer fireworks).

Field of Science

/natural sciences/chemical sciences/inorganic chemistry/inorganic compounds

/natural sciences/computer and information sciences/databases

/social sciences/law

Programme(s)

H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-SE - Society and Enterprise panel

Leaflet | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Credit: EC-GISCO, © EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries

Coordinator

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Address

Laan Van Ypenburg 6
2490 Aa The Hague

Netherlands

Activity type

Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments)

EU Contribution

€ 177 598,80

Website

Contact the organisation

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PyroProf (Chemical Profiling of Inorganic and Pyrotechnic Explosives)

Reporting period: 2017-09-04 to 2019-09-03

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The Pyroprof project has contributed to the need for forensic profiling of inorganic explosives, a strategy that goes beyond the identification of chemical components. Explosive profiling may give insight in characteristic profiles (individualization). This strategy can provide crucial evidence for court, not only for solving case work, also intelligence in counterterrorism investigations. Therefore, through this project the proof of principle for the necessary analytical strategies and tools for explosive profiling has been developed and tested, as well as additional new knowledge on chemical compositions that might allow individualization of case work samples has been obtained.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main outcome of this project is: two new analytical methods by Ion chromatography-Mass spectrometry (IC-MS) for the identification and quantification of 40 ions related to inorganic explosives, 2 methods for the analysis of powders and clay of fireworks by Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), 1 method for the analysis of fireworks clay by portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), a sampling kit with instructions for the collection of pre- and post-blast samples and environmental samples, the sampling necessary for a complete environmental survey of the background chemical levels of ions related to inorganic explosives in the Netherlands, the set-up for a new database with GIS (Geographical Information System) functionality to display the chemical levels of ions of interest in a specific spot in the Netherlands, and new insight on the trace composition of different parts of fireworks (powders, fuses and clay plugs).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

All these tools and new knowledge will give the chance to forensic expert to implement the chemical profiling of inorganic explosives for solving regular case work. This research will impact and benefit the beneficiary institution, the Netherlands Forensic Institute, since it will exploit the outcome in order to improve the quality of its services (i.e. analysis of case work samples, forensic reports, court testimony) for the criminal justice system in the Netherlands. In addition, this project has been disseminated to other professionals of this field that work in other European forensic institutions through the Network of European Forensic Laboratories. Hence, the whole European society might benefit from this action. In addition, this project will boost the career of the granted fellow, Dr. Carlos Martín-Alberca, thanks to the excellent training on analytical techniques, knowledge on explosives and forensic, project management, mentoring and teaching at the beneficiary institution and at the partner institution, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

General aim of the action and the 3 specific goals

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands

Deliverables

Deliverables not available

Publications

Thesis dissertations (9)

Chemical fingerprinting of firework clay plaques, by XRF and indirect UV detection CE.An effort to aid police and forensic institutions in the prevention and investigation of crimes using pyrotechnics.

Author(s): Felix van Zwoll Supervisor/Examiner: Examiner:dr. Carlos Martin-Alberca and dr. R. Haselberg

Published in: 2019

A digital chest of drawers for explosion dust to support forensic analysis

Author(s): Luuk van Gorp; Fleur Jonker; Christopher Kurth; Jorn Neppelenbroek; Aina Tubau Comas

Published in: Issue 1, 2018

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528101

Investigating the New Year's Eve effect: Analysis of the presence and persistence of pyrotechnic explosive related ions in the background using IC-ESI-MS

Author(s): Jesse Verbunt

Published in: Issue 1, 2018

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528054

Validation and application of an IC-ESI-MS method for low-weight cations, for the chemical profiling of inorganic explosives and pyrotechnics.

Author(s): Ibtissem Sabbar Supervisor: Dhr. Dr. C. Martin Alberca

Published in: 2019

Chemical fingerprinting of firework clay plaques, by XRF and indirect UV detection CE. An effort to aid police and forensic institutions in the prevention and investigation of crimes using pyrotechnics

Author(s): Feliz van Zwoll

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528067

LAST PART OF OPTIMIZATION OF THE IC-ESI-MS AND FIRST PART OF THE VALIDATION OF THE CATION METHOD FOR FUTURE FORENSIC CASE WORK

Author(s): Shanaya S. Soeknandan Supervisor: Mr. Carlos Martín Alberca Examiner: Mr. Chung Wong Mentor: Mr Bas Tawil

Published in: 2019

A digital chest of drawers for explosion dust to support forensic analysis

Author(s): Project team Luuk van Gorp Fleur Jonker Christopher Kurth Jorn Neppelenbroek Aina Tubau Comas Commissioners Lida van den eijkel Jacinta jansen Carlos Martin Alberca Jesse Verbunt

Published in: 2018

Investigating the New Year’s Eve effect: Analysis of the presence and persistence of pyrotechnic explosive related ions in the background using IC-ESI-MS

Author(s): Jesse Verbunt Supervisor: Dr. Carlos Martín Alberca (NFI) Examiner: Prof. Dr. Arian van Asten (UvA / NFI)

Published in: 2018

Traces of Inorganic Explosives in the Sewer System - A Review

Author(s): Nicole Simone Schröter

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528038

Other (7)

LAST PART OF OPTIMIZATION OF THE IC-ESI-MS AND FIRST PART OF THE VALIDATION OF THE CATION METHOD FOR FUTURE FORENSIC CASE WORK

Author(s): Shanaya S. Soeknandan

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528083

Manual IC-MS methods

Author(s): Shanaya S. Soeknandan; Carlos Martin Alberca

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528071

Sampling box

Author(s): Carlos Martin Alberca; Jesse Verbunt

Published in: Issue 3, 2018

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528087

List of analytes

Author(s): Carlos Martin Alberca

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528112

WebApp Pyroprof database

Author(s): Carlos Martin Alberca

Published in: Issue 1, 2018

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528135

Sample Database

Author(s): Carlos Martín Alberca

Published in: Issue 1, 2019

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528040

Validation of IC-ESI-MS method for the identification and quantification of low molecular weight cations related to pyrotechnics and inorganic explosives in casework samples.

Author(s): Carlos Martin Alberca

Published in: Issue 1, 2018

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3528095

Peer reviewed articles (1)

Rapid forensic chemical classification of confiscated flash banger fireworks using capillary electrophoresis

Author(s): Karlijn D.B. Bezemer, Lara V.A. van Duin, Carlos Martín-Alberca, Govert W. Somsen, Peter J. Schoenmakers, Rob Haselberg, Arian C. van Asten

Published in: Forensic Chemistry, Issue 16, 2019, Page(s) 100187, ISSN 2468-1709

DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100187

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

Netherlands

Project information

PyroProf

Grant agreement ID: 747249

Project website

Status

Closed project

Start date

4 September 2017
End date

3 September 2019

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.2.

Overall budget:

€ 177 598,80
EU contribution

€ 177 598,80

Coordinated by:

Netherlands Forensic Institute

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Last update: 12 May 2017

Record number: 210582

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Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PyroProf (Chemical Profiling of Inorganic and Pyrotechnic Explosives)

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