Speeding up forensics with advanced spectroscopy tools
2 Oct 2025
Dr. Tom Spudich, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, discusses the advanced techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy, GC-MS, FTIR with ATR, and ICP-OES that are transforming forensic science workflows. Hear how these methods have been instrumental in projects that range from preserving historic documents through metal content analysis to detecting beverage adulterants like 1,4-butanediol, a GHB precursor. Spudich shares how faster, more sensitive analytical tools, are enabling his team to analysis time from hours to just 15 minutes, boosting efficiency and sample throughput. With smarter instrumentation, forensic analysis is becoming faster, more selective, and more accessible than ever before.
About the company
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.
