COURSE 2: July 19 through 23, 2010
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY II.
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Applied to Forensic Analysis

A second course on infrared spectroscopy will be of general interest to chemists and other scientists who work in the fields of forensic science. The interpretation of infrared and Raman spectra is described and a general background on how to measure spectra of the highest quality is given. The format of the course largely follows that of the first week. This course will consist of two sets of lectures.

In the first set, the staff will discuss the theory, instrumentation and optimization of FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, quantitative and sampling techniques, computer methods (including the retrieval of data), quantitative techniques, and integration of IR data with other spectroscopic information. The second set of lectures will center on the analysis of forensic samples. Participants will first be introduced to vibrational analysis of forensic samples. This is in a series of lectures presented by Dr. Ed Suzuki of the Washington State Patrol, which will also include several case studies on the use of Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy.

In the first two evening workshops, participants will have the opportunity to interpret the infrared spectra of some common, and some not so common, compounds. The third workshop will present problems in spectral searching and retrieval. Although spectral searching is a common tool in laboratories, these exercises will illustrate how confusing search results can be. Methodology will be provided to resolve these difficult problems.

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Last Updated: December 03, 2009