Application of mist to fingermark detection: Misting with high-boiling-point liquid containing p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and cyanoacrylate

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 2184 - 2193
• Main Authors: Takatsu, Masahisa, Hibino, Kazuhito, Shimoda, Osamu, Shimizu, Yasuaki, Akiba, Norimitsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Boiling points; Cyanoacrylates; Fingerprints; Fluorescence; Liquids; Reagents; Substrates; fingermark detection; one-step fluorescent detection; p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde or DMAC; staining cyanoacrylate-fumed fingermarks; mist of liquid
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15331

In order to detect latent fingerprints that could be damaged by liquid or powder reagents, non-destructive processes such as gaseous reagents have been developed. In this report, we propose the use of fine mist generated when hot vapor of high-boiling-point liquids is rapidly cooled by surrounding air for fingermark detection. Octyl acetate (OA), 2-phenoxyethanol (2PE), and methyl decanoate (MD) were found to efficiently produce mist when heated to 230°C. By combining these liquids with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) and cyanoacrylate (CN), our team demonstrated effective fluorescence staining of cyano-treated fingermarks using DMAC/OA misting or DMAC/2PE misting, and one-step fluorescence detection of latent fingermarks without cyanoacrylate treatment using DMAC/OA/CN misting or DMAC/MD/CN misting. Fingermark fluorescence was efficiently observed by excitation with a blue LED light (max. wavelength 470 nm) equipped with an interference filter and passing through a 520 nm long-pass filter. We successfully obtained fluorescent images from fingermarks on several substrate materials using the developed misting method.