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Title: Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature

Abstract

Sodium and potassium cyanide are highly toxic, produced in large amounts by the chemical industry, and linked to numerous high-profile crimes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cyanide as one of the most probable agents to be used in a future chemical terrorism event. We investigated whether stable C and N isotopic content of sodium and potassium cyanide could serve as a forensic signature for sample matching, using a collection of 65 cyanide samples. A few of these samples displayed non-homogeneous isotopic content associated with degradation to a carbonate salt and loss of hydrogen cyanide. Most samples had highly reproducible isotope content. Of these, >95% could be properly matched based on C and N isotope ratios, with a false match rate <3%. These results suggest that stable C and N isotope ratios are a useful forensic signature for matching cyanide samples.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1033044
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-72316
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-1198; JFSCAS; 400904120; TRN: US201202%%546
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 57; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-1198
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; CARBON; CARBONATES; CHEMICAL INDUSTRY; CYANIDES; DISEASES; HYDROCYANIC ACID; ISOTOPE RATIO; NITROGEN ISOTOPES; POTASSIUM; SODIUM; forensic science; potassium cyanide; sodium cyanide; isotope ratio mass spectrometry; sample matching

Citation Formats

Kreuzer, Helen W, Horita, Juske, Moran, James J, Tomkins, Bruce, Janszen, Derek B, and Carman, April J. Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01946.x.
Kreuzer, Helen W, Horita, Juske, Moran, James J, Tomkins, Bruce, Janszen, Derek B, & Carman, April J. Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01946.x
Kreuzer, Helen W, Horita, Juske, Moran, James J, Tomkins, Bruce, Janszen, Derek B, and Carman, April J. 2012. "Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01946.x.
@article{osti_1033044,
title = {Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide as a Forensic Signature},
author = {Kreuzer, Helen W and Horita, Juske and Moran, James J and Tomkins, Bruce and Janszen, Derek B and Carman, April J},
abstractNote = {Sodium and potassium cyanide are highly toxic, produced in large amounts by the chemical industry, and linked to numerous high-profile crimes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cyanide as one of the most probable agents to be used in a future chemical terrorism event. We investigated whether stable C and N isotopic content of sodium and potassium cyanide could serve as a forensic signature for sample matching, using a collection of 65 cyanide samples. A few of these samples displayed non-homogeneous isotopic content associated with degradation to a carbonate salt and loss of hydrogen cyanide. Most samples had highly reproducible isotope content. Of these, >95% could be properly matched based on C and N isotope ratios, with a false match rate <3%. These results suggest that stable C and N isotope ratios are a useful forensic signature for matching cyanide samples.},
doi = {10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01946.x},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1033044}, journal = {Journal of Forensic Sciences},
issn = {0022-1198},
number = 1,
volume = 57,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2012},
month = {Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2012}
}