Thesis-2017-Wilson.pdf (3.91 MB)
Download fileLowering levels of heritage crime via novel chemical procedures
thesis
posted on 2018-02-27, 16:20 authored by Richard S. WilsonThe work reported here focused on developing innovative ways of addressing heritage
crime, and by doing so, protecting and preserving the historical assets found nationwide.
The interdisciplinary focus, linking chemistry and criminology was imperative, and this
connection is a novel way in which the issue of heritage crime can be addressed.
A survey was completed noting the key issues faced, and helped develop and report an
understanding of the general attitudes towards heritage sites across the country. The
results obtained here facilitated the chemistry research from this point, channelling the
investigations in the appropriate pathway, as well as justifying the work done from that
point onwards.
A large focus during the course of the research was that of metal theft. With this in mind,
there were subsequent attempts to develop a novel and non-invasive technique, which
could help lower levels of such crime at heritage sites. Early work concentrated on
detecting trace levels of metals commonly found at heritage sites such as copper and lead,
and their interaction with the surface of the skin. The metals were shown to form
characteristically coloured complexes when reacting with components of the skin itself, thus
confirming an individuals recent contact with the relevant metal.
This work progressed further via analysis of the metal itself post contact with a human
finger. Again, remaining non-invasive was imperative, and a technique focusing on the
development of fingerprints from the surface of copper and its alloys, via utilization of
gelatine lifters, was studied extensively. Optimizing this technique via a study on the effects
of the environment a piece of metal was stored in prior to development via rubeanic acid
solution further developed the understanding of this method. Desiccation and the resultant
reduction in humidity proved to be effective in enhancing the quality of fingerprint
produced. This also had potential impact outside of the heritage crime focus, with
fingerprint development from surfaces such as bullet casings being a particularly
noteworthy example.
Studies relating to why a change in environment enhanced the quality of fingerprint
developed were conducted, with several fingermark constituents being shown to react with
rubeanate solution.
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Because of high theft levels highlighted within the survey, efforts were made to produce
information regarding stone samples found in a range of different environments. Laser
induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used as a method of non-invasively analysing
loose material from several gravestones removed via the gelatine lifters. As well as
producing information unique to each piece of stone analysed, this also highlighted a novel
use of the analytical equipment itself.
Funding
Loughborough University.
History
School
- Science
Department
- Chemistry
Publisher
© Richard S. WilsonPublisher statement
This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Publication date
2017Notes
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.Language
- en