Analyzing different chemical degradations in saliva with Raman, Infrared, and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Location
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
Session Format
Paper Presentation
Your Campus
Statesboro Campus- Henderson Library, April 20th
Academic Unit
Department of Chemistry
Research Area Topic:
Natural & Physical Sciences - Chemistry
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Landge (Mentor/ Advisor)
Baleigh King (co-presenter)
Kayla Burke (co-presenter)
Madison Newton (co-presenter)
Abstract
Saliva can be left on virtually anything such as foods, objects placed in one’s mouth, and/or even spitting out of habit, this fluid makes a great source of forensic evidence when collected from a scene of a crime. The analysis of saliva in forensics is utilized to further identify a suspect or victim of a crime as it is a biological fluid that can be left behind, but not always visibly seen. The goal of this project is to determine the amount of time it takes saliva to chemically break down before it can no longer be feasible for use of evidence in a court of law. To test this hypothesis, saliva will be collected from swabbing areas where mouth contact is made, and saliva residue can be collected for handling and analysis. By using Raman spectroscopy and IR Spectroscopy, saliva will be analyzed to identify the possible molecules to see if a variety of compounds such as, phosphates, proteins, and enzymes give off the same vibrational frequencies at varying times of collection and analysis. The use of Raman and IR spectroscopy early on should yield vibrational frequencies of the saliva’s molecules with differing wavelengths of light to determine the molecules within the sample and see less of these molecules as the bond’s breakdown over time with the same analysis. Atomic Absorption spectroscopy will also be used to analyze the chemical elements of Ca2+ and Mg. Data collected will show that after a certain amount of time, saliva will be insignificant in a crime scene if acquired when all of its inorganic and organic chemicals are degraded.
Program Description
This research project was for our forensics chemistry class under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Shainaz Landge, faculty and professor of The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Southern University.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (File Not Available for Download)
Start Date
4-20-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
4-20-2022 3:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Jorgensen, Kyle E., "Analyzing different chemical degradations in saliva with Raman, Infrared, and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy" (2022). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 32.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2022/2022/32
Analyzing different chemical degradations in saliva with Raman, Infrared, and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
Saliva can be left on virtually anything such as foods, objects placed in one’s mouth, and/or even spitting out of habit, this fluid makes a great source of forensic evidence when collected from a scene of a crime. The analysis of saliva in forensics is utilized to further identify a suspect or victim of a crime as it is a biological fluid that can be left behind, but not always visibly seen. The goal of this project is to determine the amount of time it takes saliva to chemically break down before it can no longer be feasible for use of evidence in a court of law. To test this hypothesis, saliva will be collected from swabbing areas where mouth contact is made, and saliva residue can be collected for handling and analysis. By using Raman spectroscopy and IR Spectroscopy, saliva will be analyzed to identify the possible molecules to see if a variety of compounds such as, phosphates, proteins, and enzymes give off the same vibrational frequencies at varying times of collection and analysis. The use of Raman and IR spectroscopy early on should yield vibrational frequencies of the saliva’s molecules with differing wavelengths of light to determine the molecules within the sample and see less of these molecules as the bond’s breakdown over time with the same analysis. Atomic Absorption spectroscopy will also be used to analyze the chemical elements of Ca2+ and Mg. Data collected will show that after a certain amount of time, saliva will be insignificant in a crime scene if acquired when all of its inorganic and organic chemicals are degraded.
