Characterization of anti-theft devices directly from the surface of banknotes via easy ambient sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry

Eduardo Morgado Schmidt; Marcos Fernando Franco; Claudio José Cuelbas; Jorge Jardim Zacca; Werickson Fortunato de Carvalho Rocha; Rodrigo Borges; Wanderley de Souza; Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland Sawaya; Marcos Nogueira Eberlin; Deleon Nascimento Correa

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2015.04.004

Characterization of anti-theft devices directly from the surface of banknotes via easy ambient sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry

Sci Justice. 2015 Sep;55(5):285-90. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2015.04.004. Epub 2015 Apr 28.

Affiliations

¹ ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Analítica, 04131-000 São Paulo, Brazil.
² ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
³ Brazilian Federal Police, Scientific and Technical Dept., 70037-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
⁴ National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology-INMETRO, 25250-020 Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
⁶ ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
⁷ ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Technical-Scientific Police Superintendency from São Paulo State, Criminalistic Institute, 05507-060, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: deleon.correa@iqm.unicamp.br.

PMID: 26385709
DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2015.04.004

Abstract

Using Brazilian banknotes as a test case, forensic examination and identification of Rhodamine B dye anti-theft device (ATD) staining on banknotes were performed. Easy ambient sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) was used since it allows fast and simple analysis with no sample preparation providing molecular screening of the surface with direct desorption and ionization of the security dye. For a more accurate molecular characterization of the ATD dye, Q Exactive Orbitrap™ Fourier transform (tandem) mass spectrometry using eletrospray ionization (ESI-HRMS/MS) was also applied.

Keywords: Ambient mass spectrometry; Anti-theft device; EASI–MS; Forensic science; Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't