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 combines the strong color of ninhydrin and the fluorescence of DFO. Like DFO it fluoresces strongly after excitation with green light.

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.

The formulations containing a small amount of ethanol and zinc chloride will develop colored fingerprints (pink color slightly less strong than would have been obtained with ninhydrin) and a fluorescence as good but most of the times superior to DFO.

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.

Cat. No. B-78160
IND-Zinc chloride set, for 1 liter ready-to-use solution (IND-Zn formulation). Consist of: one bottle contaning 1 gram 1,2-IND, glass bottle with solvent mix (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, acetic acid, ethanol, zinc chloride) and a PE-bottle of 900 ml petroleum ether 60-95.

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 »»

Fingerprint cut in half and treated with 1,2-IND (left side) and DFO (right side) in white light

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

Above: fingerprint cut in half and treated with DFO (right side) and 1,2-IND (left side).
Viewed under green light (505 nm), through an orange filter (OG550).