The effect of chlorine and hydrogen chloride on latent fingermark evidence.
Exposure of forensic evidence to either hydrogen chloride or chlorine can result in acidification to such an extent that enhancement of fingermarks with ninhydrin or cyanoacrylate is inhibited. Under these circumstances, pretreatment of samples with volatile bases such as triethylamine or ethanolamine prior to using these enhancement techniques can lead to successful visualization of fingermarks. Alternatively, physical enhancement techniques such as powder dusting or small particle reagent can be used on acidified non-porous substrates, although the former technique is subject to increased background under such conditions.
McDonald
Debbie
D
Forensic Science Programme, Department of Chemistry, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
Pope
Hazel
H
Miskelly
Gordon M
GM
D002713:Chlorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011208:Powders; D012629:Sebum; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D014835:Volatilization
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011208:Powders; D002713:Chlorine; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid