Fire and Explosions Investigation

Abstract

The use of chemometric methods in the analysis process of fire and explosive evidence allows for enhanced detection and classification of target analytes to be achieved. There is a vast amount of research into the application of chemometrics in the analysis of ignitable liquid and explosive residues throughout forensic fire and explosion investigations. This chapter provides an overview of research that focuses on discrimination and classification, as well as the use of experimental design to optimise sampling, storage, and analysis protocols for ignitable liquid and explosive residues. The research discussed demonstrates the usefulness of chemometrics as a tool for the efficient detection and classification of forensic evidence. Further research in this area is needed so that chemometrics may be used for future method development and identification and classification of ignitable liquid and explosive residues in real-life criminal casework.