ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 9

Evaluation of 1,2-Indanedione and 5,6-Dimethoxy-1,2-Indanedione for the Detection of Latent Fingerprints on Porous Surfaces
Lennard, C
Forensic Services, Australian Federal Police, ACT

Roux, C
Materials and Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW

Stoilovic, M
Forensic Services, Australian Federal Police, ACT

Jones, N
Materials and Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW

(Received 18 February 1999; accepted 19 October 1999)

Abstract

The ability of 1,2-indanedione and 5,6-dimethoxy-1,2-indanedione to detect latent prints on porous surfaces, as compared to DFO and ninhydrin, has been evaluated. Comparisons of prints developed under various conditions determined the optimum development conditions for the new reagents. The indanediones tested were found to have lower detection limits for glycine. The carrier solvent used was found to affect the quality of the prints developed. In Arklone, the new reagents developed prints that displayed superior luminescence to those developed with DFO. In HFE 7100, 1,2-indanedione and 5,6-dimethoxy-1,2-indanedione gave superior luminescence to DFO after zinc salt treatment and cooling with liquid nitrogen, both of which improve the luminescence of prints developed with 1,2-indanediones, 1,2-Indanediones could offer less expensive but effective alternatives to DFO. With further optimization, the new reagents may supersede DFO as the method of choice for the detection of latent fingerprints on porous surfaces.

Keywords:
forensic science, fingerprints, detection techniques, porous surfaces, indanediones, DFO, ninhydrin, amino acids, luminescence

Paper ID: JFS14768J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14768J
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