Forensic Examination and Identification of Writing Inks on Documents

Abstract

Ink analysis plays a significant role in questioned document examination, a discipline of forensic science. Writing inks based on their chemical substances such as solvents, resins, colorants as dyes or pigments, may be distinguished by applying two step methodology including non-destructive or visual examination and destructive or chemical analysis. Both approaches involve identification and comparison techniques by contributing certain advantages to the investigation such as Thin Layer Chromatography has been marked for a long time. However, forensic scientists have the availability of evolutionary methods that led to the use of less destructive techniques including spectroscopy that minimizes the scope of previous separation techniques. This review paper delivers an outline of techniques/methods including spectroscopic and chromatographic development with possible advantages or drawbacks. The acquired results should be evaluated accurately by paying more consideration as providing reliable findings in the court of law is certainly of central significance.