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Joint Meeting of the
Princeton & Trenton ACS Sections
Thursday, April 14
our guest speaker will be
John Allison, PhD
Dept of Chemistry, Director
of Forensic Chemistry, College of New Jersey
“Forensic Applications of the Analysis of Colorants: From Dyes
in Pen Inks to the Search for the Afterlife.”
Social mixer begins at 5:30
pm in Frick Laboratory, Taylor Commons, Princeton University.
Presentation is at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium followed by dinner
in Taylor Commons.
Abstract:
Many questions that arise
in art conservation are the same as those encountered in
questioned document examination, a field in the Forensic
Sciences. Is it authentic? Are the components appropriate
for the time and place in which it was created? Many of
these questions can be answered by analyzing the dyes and
pigments, the colorants, found in a document or a work of
art. Using laser desorption mass spectrometry, and other
chemical and spectroscopic approaches, we have developed
methods for analyzing pen inks (such as signatures on a will
or bank check), paper currency, pigments found in automobile
paint chips (e.g., from a hit-and-run accident), to a
mysterious obliteration that may defy explanation.
Biography:
Dr. Allison received his
BS from Widener University and PhD from the University of
Delaware. He held a post-doctoral position at Stanford
University.
His research interests
are in the application of mass spectrometry and other
analytical techniques to forensic science. These include
questioned document examination, and the analysis of
colorants as used in art.
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