title: Reagents for the chemical development of latent fingerprints: scope and limitations of benzo[f]ninhydrin in comparison to ninhydrin.
abstract: Benzo[f]ninhydrin was compared to ninhydrin for fingerprint development on paper. Overall, the performance of ninhydrin on exhibits was slightly better than that of benzo[f]ninhydrin. The significant advantages of the benzo[f]ninhydrin over ninhydrin were the much stronger fluorescence it gave after treatment with zinc salts and a slightly quicker reaction under ambient conditions. This fluorescence is, however, similar to that obtained with other reagents, such as DFO or ninhydrin analogs. These advantages apparently are not sufficient to justify regular usage of benzo[f]ninhydrin, especially when one considers its low solubility and high cost.
authors.affiliation: Israel Police National H.Q., Division of Identification and Forensic Science, Jerusalem.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almog
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hewlett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiesner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lidor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahar
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000737:chemistry; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009555:Ninhydrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009555:Ninhydrin; D001554:Benzene