Forensic Taphonomy Laboratory

The Forensic Taphonomy Laboratory is a brand-new, purpose-built, dedicated laboratory that allows sophisticated analyses of a range of samples from different taphonomic contexts. It is divided into a 'wet' area and 'dry' area, maximising the variety of samples that can be accommodated.

The 'wet' area is used for processing and preparing decomposed or decomposing material and tissue. It is equipped with fume hood, fridge and freezer. The 'dry' area contains analytical equipment including GCMS and UPLCMS for identification and characterisation of a wide range of organic and inorganic samples.

The GCMS instrumentation in the Forensic Taphonomy Laboratory is used for a variety of analyses, including identification and quantification of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from cadavers as they decompose, and for metabolomics studies including high throughput analyses of the small molecules present in a specific tissue or sample, for forensic applications such as post-mortem interval estimation.

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