Development of dry-origin latent footwear impression on non-porous and semi-porous surfaces using a 5-methylthioninhydrin and L-alanine complex

Abstract

5-methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN) is an amino acid sensitive reagent used for the development of latent fingermarks deposited on porous surfaces such as paper and wood. The present study demonstrates that the 5-MTN can be used as a latent footwear impression enhancement reagent, by reacting with trace multivalent metal ions, which are the main components of the latent footwear impression. 5-MTN and L-alanine complex (MTN-ALA) used for the latent footwear impression development was prepared, by mixing 4.5×10 −3 M 5-MTN (in methanol) and 4.5×10 −3 M L-alanine (in methanol) in 1:1 ratio, and keeping undisturbed at room temperature for 24 h. The latent footwear impressions were deposited on white and black non-porous surfaces (glass plate, polyethylene panel, polypropylene panel, acryl panel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) panel, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) panel, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) panel, tile), and a semi-porous surfaces (painted wood). The latent footwear impressions on these surfaces were treated with MTN-ALA complex by spraying. The fluorescence of footwear impressions (occurred due to the reaction between MTN-ALA and metal complexes) was observed under a 505 nm forensic light source and an orange barrier filter. The enhancement of latent footwear impression was achieved from black surfaces without any blurring. However, the fluorescence (enhancement) of footwear impression was not observed on the white PVC, PMMA, and ABS surfaces, because the incident light interfered and reflected on the surface. The sensitivity of MTN-ALA was superior to 2,2’-dipyridil, which is a representative non-fluorescing footwear impression enhancement reagent, and similar to 8-hydroxyquinoline, which is a representative fluorescing footwear impression enhancement reagent.