Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2011 | Page 19

FORENSICS JOURNAL

One drop of pyridine was added to the vials containing ballpoint ink
punches and one drop of ethanol:water (1:1) was added to the vials
containing non-ballpoint ink punches. The vials were undisturbed for
approximately five minutes to let the ink components dissolve in the
solvents.

TABLE 4: THE TWENTY-FOUR SOLVENT
SYSTEM COMBINATIONS
COMPONENT COMPONENT
1
2
(ETHANOL)
(WATER)

COMPONENT
3
(ETHYL
ACETATE)

#

TRIAL

1

ADG

Denatured

Tap

A.C.S. grade

2

BDG

Anhydrous

Tap

A.C.S. grade

3

CDG

200 Proof

Tap

A.C.S. grade

4

AEG

Denatured

RO/DI
(lab grade)

A.C.S. grade

5

BEG

Anhydrous

RO/DI
(lab grade)

A.C.S. grade

6

CEG

200 Proof

RO/DI
(lab grade)

A.C.S. grade

7

AFG

Denatured

HPLC grade

A.C.S. grade

8

BFG

Anhydrous

HPLC grade

A.C.S. grade

EM Science; Lot#
41074

9

CFG

200 Proof

HPLC grade

A.C.S. grade

10

ADH

Denatured

Tap

HPLC grade

BDH

Anhydrous

Tap

HPLC grade

Between two and four grades of each solvent used in Solvent System
I were chosen for analysis. The variety of grades available for each solvent can be seen in Table 3. Twenty-four solvent system combinations
were created using the different grades available for each solvent in
Solvent System I [SSI]. Table 4 shows the twenty-four combinations
of the three solvents. Each SSI combination was prepared the day of
use using 70 mL ethyl acetate, 35 mL ethanol, and 30 mL water with
the appropriate solvent grades. The total mixture was split into two
graduated cylinders of 60 mL and 75 mL.

TABLE 3: SOLVENTS USED
SOLVENT
LETTER

SOLVENT

Solvent A

Denatured Ethanol

MANUFACTURER
INFORMATION

Solvent B

Anhydrous Ethanol

J.T. Baker; Lot#
B28752

11
12

CDH

200 Proof

Tap

HPLC grade

Solvent C

200 proof Ethanol

Spectrum; Lot#
Yw3109

13

AEH

Denatured

RO/DI
(lab grade)

HPLC grade

Solvent D

Tap Water

From Sink in
Laboratory, D.C.

14

BEH

Anhydrous

RO/DI
(lab grade)

HPLC grade

Solvent E

Distilled Water

Distilled at the USSS
FSD

15

CEH

200 Proof

RO/DI
(lab grade)

HPLC grade

Solvent F

HPLC grade Water

Burdick and Jackson;
Lot # CR194

16

AFH

Denatured

HPLC grade

HPLC grade

17

BFH

Anhydrous

HPLC grade

HPLC grade

18

CFH

200 Proof

HPLC grade

HPLC grade

19

AIH

Denatured

Distilled (CVS)

HPLC grade

20

BIH

Anhydrous

Distilled (CVS)

HPLC grade

21

CIH

200 Proof

Distilled (CVS)

HPLC grade

22

AIG

Denatured

Distilled (CVS)

A.C.S. grade

23

BIG

Anhydrous

Distilled (CVS)

A.C.S. grade

24

CIG

200 Proof

Distilled (CVS)

A.C.S. grade

Solvent G

A.C.S. grade Ethyl Acetate

J.T. Baker; Lot#
G39B19

Solvent H

HPLC grade Ethyl Acetate

Acros; Lot#
B0518555

Solvent I

RO/DI (Reverse Osmosis
and Deionized) Water

De-ionized Water
from CVS

17