Europium aryl-beta-diketone complexes as fluorescent dyes for the detection of cyanoacrylate developed fingerprints on human skin.
The application of europium luminescence to the visualisation of cyanoacrylate developed fingerprints is reported. Extremely fluorescent europium chelates are produced by the reaction of Eu3+ ions with aryl-beta-diketones. Excitation of the organic ligand occurs at 350 nm for europium tris(thenoyltrifluoroacetone) (TEC) and europium narrow band (10 nm) emission is observed at 614 nm as a result of an intramolecular energy transfer. The europium aryl-beta-diketone complexes are transferred into the interior of the polymeric cyanoacrylate from an aqueous methyl ethyl ketone solution. A two phase system is established with methyl ethyl ketone, water and chelate outside the polymer and methyl ethyl ketone and chelate inside. As the print dries the ketone evaporates 'locking' the chelate inside the cyanoacrylate. Sufficient TEC is deposited in the polymer so that the print is easily seen under 7 mW/cm2 of Hg light. Washing away of background contamination does not harm the fluorescent print. Prints deposited on cadaver skin and fumed with cyanoacrylate have been detected with good detail by this method.
Wilkinson
D A
DA
Canadian Police Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada M-54, Ottawa, Ontario.
Watkin
J E
JE
D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000032:analysis*; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012867:Skin
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes