Raman microscopic identification of gunshot residues

Abstract

Raman microscopy was used to identify unambiguously the anions of lead and barium in gunshot residues (ca. 5 μm in size) deposited on cellulosic substrates. It was found that most of the particles consist of mixtures of oxides, sulphate and carbonate (along with carbon). In particular, there is strong evidence for the formation of mixed oxides of iron but only relatively little evidence for oxides of antimony. The Raman technique has been shown to be able to identify individual or mixed components and to confirm the presence of microcrystalline particles with a particular crystal structure (e.g. orthorhombic lead oxide). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.