ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Chemical Development of Latent Fingerprints: 1,2-Indanedione Has Come of Age
Springer, E
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q., Israel

Almog, J
Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University, Israel

Wiesner, S
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (D.I.F.S.) Israel Police, National H.Q., Israel

Sasson, Y
Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University, Israel

(Received 1 September 2000; accepted 1 December 2000)

Abstract

The performance of 1,2-indanedione as a latent fingerprint reagent on some types of paper was found to exceed that of DFO, the leading fluorogenic fingerprint reagent. It even exceeds the performance of the sequence, DFO, followed by ninhydrin. No new prints could be observed when ninhydrin was applied after indanedione. On a large number of actual exhibits (used checks) indanedione developed 46% more identifiable prints than the sequence DFO-ninhydrin.

A standard procedure for fingerprint development by indanedione is proposed. Best results are obtained with a 0.2% indanedione solution in HFE7100 solvent containing 7% ethyl acetate, but no acetic acid. It can be recommended to start using 1,2-indanedione, which is already commercially available, in actual fingerprint casework.

Keywords:
forensic science, fingerprint development, paper, 1,2-indanedione, 1,8-diazafluorene-9-one, ninhydrin, latent, criminalistics

Paper ID: JFS15102J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15102J
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