Development of latent footwear impression on porous surfaces using DL-alanine solution and 1,2-indanedione solution

Abstract

A new method for obtaining the photoluminescence of footwear impression by using 1,2-indandione (1,2-IND) solution, which is a latent fingerprint-developing reagent, was studied. A binary complex of DL-alanine and 1,2-IND was prepared by spraying a DL-alanine solution and the 1,2-IND solution (an amino acid sensitive reagent) onto dry or wet origin footwear impression deposited on the surface of printed A4 paper. This binary complex reacts with the trace metal component in the footwear impression to form a ternary complex that exhibits photoluminescence. However, when 5-methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN) solution was used instead of 1,2-IND, no consistent photoluminescence was observed even under identical treatment conditions. In addition, when footwear impressions treated with DL-alanine and 1,2-IND solutions were stored under various temperature conditions (30, 40 and 50 degrees C) and various humidity conditions (30 %, 40 %, 50 % and 60 % RH), the contrast between the footwear impression and the background decreased. Optimal footwear impression photoluminescence was obtained when the footwear impressions treated with DL-alanine and 1,2-IND solutions were stored at 30 degrees C and 30 % RH for 1 h. The sensitivity of the developed method was ccompared with the sensitivities of three known methods - black gelatin lifting, 2,2'-dipyridyl treatment, and 8-hydroxyquinoline treatment. The results showed that the sensitivity of the developed method was worse than that of the black gelatin lifting method but better than that of 2,2'-dipyridyl or 8-hydroxyquinoline treatment method.