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Speeding up forensics with advanced spectroscopy tools

Shimadzu Corporation
2 Oct 2025
Speeding up forensics with advanced spectroscopy tools

Forensic spectroscopy encompasses a suite of analytical techniques designed to identify unknown substances and quantify trace elements with extreme precision and speed. In this SelectScience interview, Dr. Tom Spudich, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, explores how advanced tools like UV-Vis spectroscopy, GC-MS, FTIR with ATR, and ICP-OES are transforming forensic science workflows.

Discover how these methods are instrumental in diverse applications, from preserving historic documents through elemental analysis to detecting beverage adulterants like 1,4-butanediol. Learn how Shimadzu’s high-sensitivity instrumentation is slashing analysis times from hours to just 15 minutes, significantly boosting sample throughput and accessibility in the field.

Find out more information on Shimadzu forensics solutions here.

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Shimadzu Corporation

Shimadzu Corporation was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1875 and has been supplying cutting-edge analytical and measuring instruments for a broad range of applications for over 140 years. Key markets include pharmaceuticals, life sciences, food & beverages, chemicals, petrochemicals, environmental, material science, and forensics/toxicology. Products include chromatographs (HPLC/UHPLC/SFC, GC), mass spectrometers (GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, MALDI, ICP-MS), spectrophotometers (FT-IR, Fluorescence, UV-VIS-NIR), atomic spectrometers (AA, ICP), X-ray spectrometers (ED-XRF, XRD, XRF), thermal analyzers, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzers, particle size analyzers, material testing machines, and balances, etc.

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Infrared / IR SpectroscopyInfrared (IR) spectroscopy measures the interaction of infrared light with a sample, including transmission, reflectance & absorbance, facilitating the identification of analytes. Equipment used for quantitative analysis includes Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers, infrared cameras, FTIR gas analyzers, as well as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessories and pellet or film presses. Find the best IR spectroscopy products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.UV-Visible SpectroscopyUltraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometers are used to measure the interaction of UV and visible light with a sample, including transmission, reflectance & absorbance. The two major instrument classes are single-beam or double-beam spectrophotometers. More specialized equipment includes colorimeters, spectroradiometers and refractometers. Portable and microvolume spectrophotometers are also available. For the modular spectroscopy lab, explore a range of light sources for combination with a spectrograph/spectrometer and optics. Find the best UV-Vis spectroscopy products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.GC-MS GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) instruments and equipment are used to separate, quantify and identify mixtures of small and volatile compounds, such as polycyclic aromatics, fatty acids and alcohols. Often used in drug detection, forensic investigation and environmental analysis for pesticides and contaminants, GC-MS is a powerful addition to your lab’s analytical capabilities. GC-MS/MS instruments equipped with a qTOF or triple quadrupole analyzers can give greater sensitivity and resolution to your analysis. Find the best GC-MS instruments and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Atomic Absorption / Emission SpectroscopyAtomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) — also called optical emission spectroscopy (OES) — are used to detect the elemental constituents in samples. Both techniques involve the atomization of a sample. Atomic absorption spectrometers may use a flame or furnace to create an atomic vapor of the sample before irradiation with spectral light. Optical emission spectrometers may use a flame, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), microwave plasma (MP) or spark arcs to atomize and excite the sample. At higher excitation energies, electrons can be emitted instead of photons, which can be useful for samples that can’t be atomized and for surface analysis. Explore electron spectroscopy equipment such as Auger spectrometers and photoelectron spectrometers for surface elemental analysis of samples. Find the best atomic absorption, photoelectron and optical emission spectrometers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Forensic InvestigationForensic investigation is a diverse collection of scientific techniques and methods for the identification and characterization of chemicals relating to crime scene investigations.Material TestingClinical Mass SpectrometryMass spectrometry is emerging as a superior method of analysis over the longstanding, gold standard of immunoassay. Clinical mass spectrometry systems are increasingly accessible to medical laboratories and are capable of providing results with more speed and less expense than traditional methods. From simple mass spectrometers to IVDR class A compliant, highly sophisticated systems performing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), find the latest product news, reviews and resources to make a purchasing decision for your laboratory.

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