Identification of Smokeless Powder Gunshot Residues

Abstract

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was applied to quantitative analysis of organic gunshot residues. A small particle of the residue was collected from an adhesive sheet laid on the floor in front of a barrel. Smokeless powder and its residues were dissolved in acetone and submitted to GC/MS. The ingredients of smokeless powder were quantified by mass chromatography. The peak area ratio of stabilizers to nitroglycerin (NG) in the residue showed almost same value in the original smokeless powder. These results will suggest that the residue analysis is useful for characterizing the original powder.