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Chemical Development of Latent Fingerprints: 1,2-Indanedione Has Come of Age

NCJ Number
191317
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2001 Pages: 1082-1084
Author(s)
Sarena Wiesner B.Sc.; Eliot Springer M.Sc.; Yoel Sasson Ph.D.; Joseph Almog Ph.D.
Date Published
September 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examined the performance of 1,2-indanedione as a potential latent fingerprint reagent with future recommendations for actual fingerprint casework.
Abstract
The performance of 1,2-indanedione as a latent fingerprint reagent on some types of paper was found to exceed that of 1,8-diazafluorene-9-one (DFO); the present leading fluorogenic fingerprint reagent. In the first part of the study, the working conditions with indanedione were optimized in regards to factors such as solvents, concentration, pH, temperature, and humidity. In the second part, the performance of indanedione under these optimal working conditions was compared with that of DFO and with DFO followed by ninhydrin. Results indicated that 1,2-indanedione had successfully passed the acceptance tests for use in casework as a fingerprint development reagent on certain types of paper exhibits. Best results were obtained with a 0.2 percent indanedione solution in HFE7100 solvent containing 7 percent ethyl acetate, but no acetic acid. More extensive experiments were recommended in order to introduce it to actual fingerprint casework. References