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ForensicSpot7 modules

Instrumental Techniques

The spectroscopy, chromatography, mass-spectrometry and microscopy families, hyphenated workflows, and the lab quality systems behind them.

  • 76hours
  • 21topics
  • 7modules
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Module 19 hrs3 topics

Foundations of Instrumental Analysis

What instrumental analysis actually does in a forensic-science workflow, the physics of atomic and molecular spectra that every spectroscopic technique rides on, and the sample preparation, calibration and reference-standard discipline that sits before any instrument is switched on.

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  1. Introduction and Scope of Instrumental Techniques in Forensic ScienceMaps where each instrument family (optical, atomic, chromatographic, mass spec, magnetic resonance, microscopy) sits in a forensic lab's workflow.12 min
  2. Atomic and Molecular Spectra FundamentalsCovers the physics behind spectroscopy: electronic, vibrational, and rotational energy levels, and how absorption, emission, and scattering probe a molecule.14 min
  3. Sample Preparation, Purification and Instrument CalibrationCovers extraction, clean-up, and derivatisation before analysis, then instrument calibration with reference materials, linearity, LOD, LOQ, and recovery checks.22 min
Module 29 hrs3 topics

Optical and Luminescence Spectroscopy

UV-Vis absorption and the Beer-Lambert law, fluorescence and phosphorescence as detection layers, and the infrared region (FTIR and ATR-FTIR) that fingerprints organic molecules and unknown solids in the working examiner's casebook.

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  1. UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and the Beer-Lambert LawCovers the Beer-Lambert law, dispersive versus diode-array UV-Vis instruments, chromophore-to-wavelength mapping, and UV-Vis as presumptive versus confirmatory.16 min
  2. Fluorescence and Phosphorescence SpectroscopyCovers singlet and triplet excited states, the Jablonski diagram, quantum yield and phosphorescence lifetime, and forensic uses like document forgery under UV.14 min
  3. Infrared Spectroscopy: FTIR and ATR-FTIRCovers FTIR and ATR-FTIR, the fingerprint region, and sample modes used to identify unknown powders, paint layers, and explosive residue.15 min
Module 312 hrs3 topics

Atomic and X-ray Spectroscopy

Flame and graphite-furnace atomic absorption (AAS) for metals, ICP-OES and ICP-MS for multi-element panels at trace level, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and diffraction (XRD) for elemental and crystalline phase identification of paint, glass, gunshot residue and forged documents.

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  1. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS): Flame, Graphite Furnace and Cold VapourCovers flame, graphite-furnace, and cold-vapour AAS for metals like Pb, Cu, As, and Hg, hydride generation, and interference correction methods.14 min
  2. Atomic Emission: ICP-OES and ICP-MSCovers argon-plasma ICP-OES, quadrupole and sector ICP-MS at parts-per-trillion, isotope-ratio source attribution, and their advantages over AAS.12 min
  3. X-Ray Spectroscopy: XRF, XRD and X-Ray AbsorptionCovers EDXRF and WDXRF for elemental composition of paint, glass, and gunshot residue, plus XRD for crystalline phase identification.14 min
Module 412 hrs3 topics

Chromatography

Paper, column, thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, UHPLC, HPTLC), and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) with FID, ECD and NPD detectors: the separation toolkit that anchors drug analysis, fire-debris work, explosives and toxicology at every Indian state SFSL.

Start module
  1. Chromatography Fundamentals: Paper, Column and TLCCovers stationary and mobile phase, the Rf concept, paper and column chromatography, and TLC with silica plates and Marquis/Mayer/Dragendorff visualisation.11 min
  2. Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC): Columns, Carriers and DetectorsCovers capillary GC columns, carrier gases, FID, ECD, and NPD detectors, and workflows for fire-debris, ethanol, and pesticide-residue analysis.15 min
  3. HPLC, UHPLC and HPTLC for Forensic AnalysisCovers reverse-phase HPLC, isocratic versus gradient elution, UHPLC's fast separations, and HPTLC densitometric scanning for herbal product fingerprinting.19 min
Module 59 hrs2 topics

Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometer architecture (sample chamber, ionisation source, mass analyser, vacuum, detector), tandem MS workflows (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, Q-TOF and Orbitrap), and the spectral interpretation skill that turns a presumptive screen into a court-defensible identification.

Start module
  1. Mass Spectrometry: Principles, Ionisation and Mass AnalysersCovers ionisation sources (EI, CI, ESI, APCI, MALDI), mass analysers from quadrupole to Orbitrap, and how to read a mass spectrum.19 min
  2. Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) and Spectral InterpretationCovers triple-quadrupole MRM transitions, Q-TOF accurate mass, NIST library matching, and the molecular ion versus fragment ion logic in reporting.15 min
Module 612 hrs4 topics

Raman, NMR, Microscopy and Radiochemistry

Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive complement to IR, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for structural elucidation, scanning electron microscopy with EDXRF for high-magnification elemental imaging, and the radiochemistry methods (carbon dating, neutron activation analysis) that anchor questioned-document and trace-evidence work.

Start module
  1. Raman Spectroscopy and Comparison with IRCovers the Raman effect, its complementarity with IR, surface-enhanced Raman, and portable Raman use for paint, plastic, and explosive identification.14 min
  2. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) SpectroscopyCovers 1H and 13C NMR principles, chemical shift, spin-spin coupling, instrument architecture, and use for novel psychoactive substances and cannabis profiling.15 min
  3. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with EDXRFCovers SEM electron-beam imaging with EDXRF elemental mapping, the gunshot-residue Pb-Sb-Ba workflow, and fibre and paint cross-section examination.15 min
  4. Radiochemistry: Measurement of Radioactivity, Carbon Dating and Neutron Activation AnalysisCovers alpha/beta/gamma counting, accelerator mass spectrometry for radiocarbon dating, and neutron activation analysis of hair and bullet lead.20 min
Module 79 hrs3 topics

Hyphenated Techniques and Quality Management

Hyphenated workflows (GC-MS, LC-MS, GC-FTIR) that combine separation and identification in a single run, and the ISO 17025:2017 quality system: method validation, measurement uncertainty, traceability, reference materials, proficiency testing and the NABL accreditation that decides what an Indian forensic-science lab can certify under BSA 2023 Section 63.

Start module
  1. Hyphenated Techniques: GC-MS, LC-MS and GC-FTIRCovers why coupling separation with identification became standard, the GC-MS and LC-MS/MS interfaces, and GC-FTIR for vapor-phase fingerprinting.20 min
  2. ISO 17025 and Quality Management in Forensic LaboratoriesCompares ISO 9001 and ISO 17025:2017 requirements for a testing lab, quality control versus assurance, and reference materials behind a lab's audit trail.14 min
  3. Method Validation, Measurement Uncertainty and Proficiency TestingCovers validation parameters (accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, ruggedness), the GUM approach to measurement uncertainty, and proficiency-testing schemes.9 min

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