Journal Published Online: 01 May 1993
Volume 38, Issue 3

Spectroscopy of Rare Earth-Ruhemann's Purple Complexes

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

The complexes Ruhemann's Purples form with europium or terbium salts are suitable for fingerprint development on strongly fluorescent surfaces because they show enhancement of the lanthanide luminescence via intramolecular energy transfer and because the lifetime of the luminescence is much longer than that of the usual background fluorescence. They are therefore suitable for time-resolved luminescence imaging. The complexes are useful for fingerprint staining on smooth surfaces, since they are readily prepared in solution, as well as for fingerprint detection on porous surfaces, such as paper, where the procedure is similar to the by now routine ninhydrin/zinc chloride treatment, except that the nitrate or acetate are used in many instances, instead of the chloride, in the rare earth case, depending on paper type.

Author Information

Ismail Mekkaoui, A
Physics Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Roland Menzel, E
Center for Forensic Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Pages: 15
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS13436J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13436J