Analytical techniques for the analysis of consumer fireworks

•Overview of common consumer fireworks, chemical composition and legal regulations.•High forensic interest in the analysis of pre-blast devices and post-blast residues.•Discussion of main techniques used to determine consumer fireworks.•Information for police laboratories to identify consumer fireworks in incidents.

This review provides an overview of common consumer fireworks, their usual chemical compositions, and some important classification and legal regulations in Western countries. We show the main analytical techniques and methodologies used to determine consumer fireworks. Most articles published to date focused on studying characteristics and properties of pyrotechnic reagents and explosive compositions by thermal techniques. However, a few research papers focused on the determination of chemical reagents from intact devices or their residues. In this review, we critically review colorimetric tests, and microscopy, spectroscopy, separation and potentiometric techniques. This information is useful for police laboratories in order to identify the consumer fireworks involved in certain incidents.