6-(N,N)-(Dimethylamino)fulvene: A Potential Precursor for a New Class of Fingermark Detection Reagents for Paper Surfaces

30 October 2018, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The ability to detect latent fingermarks on porous surfaces, such as paper-based documents, is extremely important in resolving criminal cases. Detection methods that target amino acids present in latent fingermark deposits have achieved widespread use due to the binding of these acids to paper fibres resulting in a good representation of the fingermark. This communication is the first report of 6-(N,N-dimethylamino)fulvene (DMAF) as a novel reagent for the detection of latent fingermarks on porous surfaces. Through observation of undergraduate students showing poor laboratory hygiene, we noted that exposure to DMAF leads to brown staining on the students’ skin. We discovered that indeed it can develop latent fingermarks on paper surfaces as pale pink impressions, which are luminescent when illuminated at 505 nm and viewed through orange goggles. The procedure is simple, requiring treatment of the specimen with a solution of DMAF in hexane with subsequent heat treatment. Preliminary experiments indicate that DMAF is reacting with the amino acids present in the latent fingermark.

Keywords

Latent fingermarks
Amino acids
Paper surfaces
Forensic science
Photoluminescence

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
Actions
Title
DMAF Fingermark Reagent
Description
Actions

Comments

Comments are not moderated before they are posted, but they can be removed by the site moderators if they are found to be in contravention of our Commenting Policy [opens in a new tab] - please read this policy before you post. Comments should be used for scholarly discussion of the content in question. You can find more information about how to use the commenting feature here [opens in a new tab] .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy [opens in a new tab] and Terms of Service [opens in a new tab] apply.