IUPUI students use exploding cocktails

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Graduate students at IUPUI used exploding cocktails Wednesday to test a patent-pending formula that could revolutionize arson investigations.

Under the director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Programs, students tested soil samples in the area where three accelerant-fueled explosions are held. The three cocktails used gasoline, torch fuel and diesel fuel.

“This is part of my research we’re looking at trying to preserve fire debris evidence as quickly as possible,” IUPUI student Deanne Turner said. “So what this study will show is that collecting of follicle organic compounds from these different ignitable liquids will help forensic analysts to be able to determine what kind of ignitable liquid was used in an arson.”

All students participating in the burn study are graduate students in forensic chemistry in the School of Science at IUPUI.