NCJ Number
228534
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 1171-1175
Date Published
September 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study chemically characterized an undigested particulate that resulted when recycled document paper was microwave digested in a solution of HNO3 and H2O2 prior to analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and the effect of the particulate material on the elemental concentrations of the paper was then examined.
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy determined that the particulate was a mixture of kaolin (clay) and TiO2. The presence of this particulate did not apparently have a significant effect on several element concentrations determined in the paper by ICP-MS (Mn, Zn, Se, Y, Ba, Ce, and Nd). This was determined by comparing the HNO3/H2O2 digestion (particulates present) with a hydrofluoric acid (HF) digestion in which no particulates were present. HNO3/H2O2 digestion is preferable to HF, even with particulates present, because HF is a very corrosive acid, is hazardous, and requires a larger paper sample and an additional evaporation step prior to ICP-MS analysis. Since the elemental concentrations determined by the use of HNO3/H2O2 digest were determined to be suitable for comparison, it is recommended as the preferred matrix for the microwave digestion of paper samples. 4 tables, 3 figures, and 13 references