CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2015
Poster Presentation
Comparative Evaluation of GC-FID, Density Gradient, and ORP Protocols for Forensic
Soil Analysis
Jasmine Gentry
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Alveshere
Forensic Chemistry
Forensic soil analysis is very important to criminal investigation because identifying the source of case
samples can provide physical evidence supporting the guilt or innocence of possible suspects. Forensic
science requires careful validation of new techniques and procedures to analyze the evidence collected at
crimes scenes. This research compares several methods of soil sample preparation and analysis by gas
chromatography (GC-FID), density gradient, and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP). Multiple soil
samples from specific research sites in West-Central Illinois are tested and data are compared to see
which method works best.