CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2015
Poster Presentation
Forensic Soil Comparisons Using HPLC, ORP, and microscopic analysis
Brittany Donovan
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Alveshere
Forensic Chemistry
Chemical and microscopic analyses can be used to create profiles or “fingerprints” of soil samples from
different areas. These techniques can be very beneficial in making comparisons of soil residues taken as
evidence in criminal investigations. This study uses high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),
oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and microscopic analysis to differentiate between soil samples from
several locations in west-central Illinois.