CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2015
Poster Presentation
Comparison of Soil Analysis Methods for HPLC, pH and Soil Density
Jacqueline Richardson
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Alveshere
Forensic Chemistry Soil analysis is useful in forensic science for a few different reasons. With forensic soil analysis, soil from
a crime scene can be compared to a soil sample taken from another location. Soil analysis can also help
in determination of time since death, or how long buried remains have been in the soil. The chemistry of
the soil has the potential to speed up or slow down the decomposition process.
Many different techniques have been proposed for conducting these analyses. In this project, several
methods of soil analysis are compared for their utility in distinguishing soils from several locations in
West-Central Illinois. Soil density gradients, created using two different sets of reagents; highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, using two different soil preparation methods; and
soil pH, tested by using a field meter and a laboratory meter; are compared to determine the optimal
protocols for analysis of soils from this region.