BVDA: Amino acid reagents: 5-MTN, 1,2-IND

Investigation kits Finger- and footprint gelatin lifters Instant lifters Lifting tape and backing cards
	Silicone rubber compounds for fingerprint lifting
Fingerprint powders 1, 2, 3, 4 Fingerprint brushes Amino acid reagents 1, 2, 3, 4 Cyanoacrylate fuming 1, 2 Sudan Black Staining of traces in blood Gentian Violet Sticky-side powder Iodine fuming
	Small particle reagent Flame technique

Above: fingerprint cut in half and treated with 5-MTN (bottom) and ninhydrin (top)
Below: As above, but viewed under green light, through a dark orange filter (MIC).

Amino acid reagents 1, 2, 3, 4

5-Methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN)

5-Methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN) is a reagent for fingerprints that combines the favorable characteristics of ninhydrin (strong color) and those of DFO and 1,2-IND (strong fluorescence). For the chemical structure see this pop-up window.

5-MTN-developed fingerprints have a stronger color than those developed with regular ninhydrin. Therefore, the working solution can have a lower concentration (at 3 g per liter, the strength of the color is about the same). After treatment with zinc chloride, 5-MTN-developed prints do not become orange, but a more reddish colored purple. The fluorescence of the fingerprint is better than DFO.

For more detailed information, see the product information section.

Cat. No. B-78200
5-MTN (ethanol hemiketal), 1 gram in brown glass bottle.

For a detailed delivery program of 5-MTN, including working and concentrated solutions see this pop-up window.

5-MTN
Visible and fluorescing
Unique product!
Produced by BVDA


	Preparations developed in our own laboratory

Above: fingerprint cut in half and treated with 5-MTN (bottom) and DFO (top).
Below: As above, but viewed under green light, through a dark orange filter (MIC).

Fluorescence of: bottom: 5-MTN, top: DFO

1,2-IND

1,2-Indandione (1,2-IND)

1,2-IND (1,2-indandione) is a reagent for fingerprints found on paper, which can best be compared to DFO. Like DFO, it does not produce strongly colored prints (at best, a light pink color), but fluoresces strongly after excitation with green light. At a concentration of 1 g per liter, 1,2-IND-developed fingerprints will show a fluorescence equal to, or better than, DFO (using the original, CFC-113-based formulation of 0.5 g DFO per liter, with two dippings).

Advantages of 1,2-IND include better solubility, which provides a more stable working solution. Solutions are not stable indefinitely, however, since the 1,2-IND molecules interact over a period of weeks, resulting in compounds that will not develop fingerprints. 1,2-IND-treated papers show no discoloration, unlike DFO, with which they become yellow. A peculiarity of 1,2-IND is that the treated papers with visualized prints must be kept in the dark to preserve them.

For the chemical structure see this pop-up window.

For more detailed information, see the product information section.

Cat. No. B-78100/78110/78115
1,2-IND, 1/10/100 g in brown glass bottle.

Page 1: ninhydrin spray, solutions, crystals; zinc chloride

Page 2: DFO (solution, crystals), plastic dipping-tray

Page 4: ThermaNin, a ninhydrin derivative for fingerprints on thermal paper next page »»

Fluorescence of DFO (left) versus 1,2-IND (right)

Above: fingerprint cut in half and treated with DFO (left side) and 1,2-IND (right side).
Viewed under green light, through a dark orange filter (photographed using a MIC).