Optimization and Initial Evaluation of 1,2-Indandione as a Reagent for Fingerprint Detection

Abstract

1,2-Indandione has been used to develop fluorescent fingerprints on porous materials such as paper. The compound reacts with amino acid residues to produce highly fluorescent fingerprint ridges. An optimized formulation and treatment protocol for using the reagent is presented here. The reagent is applied as a solution in HFE7100 containing acetic acid and ethyl acetate. Treated articles are heated at 100°C for 10 min at ambient humidity and stored in the dark before recording the fingerprints using fluorescence photography or digital imaging. Photodecomposition of the fluorescent fingerprints has been observed. Storage in the dark reduces degradation, extending the lifetime of the fingerprints. Other chemical methods to stabilize the fingerprints proved unsuccessful. Comparisons of the performance of 1,2-indandione with DFO in CFC113 performed on a limited range of substrates indicated that the reagent might be an effective method for the development of latent fingerprints despite the new reagent producing less intense fluorescence.

Optimisation and evaluation of 1,2-indanedione for use as a fingermark reagent and its application to real samples

“…4) was proposed as a fingermark reagent in 1997 by Ramotowski et al [3] following research into ninhydrin analogues by Jouille and co-workers, in conjunction with the US Secret Service. Following this discovery researchers in Australia [4], Israel [5,6], the USA [7,8], the United Kingdom [9,10] and Canada [11] have conducted research into the capabilities of 1,2-indanedione as a fingermark reagent.…”

“…This could perhaps be attributed to the substantially lower concentration of the 1,2-indanedione formulations used by the UK HODSB. Research by the HOSDB gave an optimum formulation of 0.025% w/v whereas all other research performed have been based on formulations ranging from 0.05 to 0.3% w/v [10].…”

“…While most published results have clearly shown that humidity has a beneficial effect [6,22], research performed by the UK HOSDB [10] has suggested that humidity had a detrimental effect on the quality of the fingermark samples. This issue will be addressed in future research directed at the accurate control of temperature and humidity conditions.…”

“…One of the 1,2-indanedione formulations [6] was discarded 1 week into the laboratory trial due to instability and poor performance. The two DFO formulations and the remaining 1,2-indanedione formulation [10] were used to process the exhibits with 80 checks being treated with each reagent. 1,2-Indanedione was the poorest performing reagent out of each of the three reagents in the laboratory trial.…”

Use of an Optimized 1,2‐Indanedione Process for the Development of Latent Prints*

“…The fluorescence of some of the compounds evaluated was found to be superior to that of DFO even without subsequent zinc salt treatment. Other studies found that the performance of DFO was superior to Ind (12)(13)(14). Another publication reported that when deciding with which reagent to process porous items (ninhydrin or 1,2-indanedione), the latter would be the primary choice (15).…”