THENOYL EUROPIUM CHELATE: A NEW FLUORESCENT DYE WITH A NARROW EMISSION BAND TO DETECT CYANOACRYLATE DEVELOPED FINGERPRINTS ON NON-POROUS SUBSTRATES AND CADAVERS

• NCJ Number: 141681
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: (March- April 1993) Pages: 154-165
• Author(s): A Misner; D Wilkinson; J Watkin
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Thenoyl europium chelate (TEC) is a new fluorescent dye stain that can be used to detect latent fingerprints on cyanoacrylate-processed nonporous and the human skin of corpses using an inexpensive ultraviolet light source.

Abstract

TEC results from the reaction of europium chloride with thenoyltrifluoroacetone. This reaction produces a fluorescent dye that strongly absorbs ultraviolet light near 350 nm and emits a band only 10 nm wide at 614 nm. the addition of methyl ethyl ketone to an aqueous solution of this dye enables it to penetrate cyanoacrylate-developed latent prints so that a low-power, inexpensive ultraviolet light source is sufficient to excite brilliant red fluorescence. It can also be used to detect cyanoacrylate prints on many surfaces, including cadavers. Figure, photograph, 5 references, and address from which to obtain further information