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New Europium Chelate as a Fluorescent Dye for Cyanoacrylate Pretreated Fingerprints: EuTTAPhen (Europium ThenoylTrifluoro- Acetone Ortho-Phenanthroline)

NCJ Number
156771
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 654-658
Author(s)
E R A Lock; W D Mazzella; P Margot
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on studies of a proposed new fluorescent dye to enhance fingerprints, using a Europium complex (TEC).
Abstract
EuTTAPhen (Europium ThenoylTrifluoro-Acetone Ortho- Phenanthroline) is a new fluorescent dye for cyanoacrylate pretreated fingerprints that is the outcome of further studies on Europium complexes and especially of the dye proposed by Misner, Wilkinson and Watkin. This new dye has the same spectral properties as the TEC, but a higher luminescence intensity makes it polyvalent and efficient on many surfaces. The formulation is based on petroleum ether instead of methyl ethyl ketone and water. Petroleum ether was chosen for its low cost, availability, low toxicity, low polarity, and high volatility. In addition, the EuTTAPhen dye could easily be mixed with other common cyanoacrylate stains. Preliminary tests on cyanoacrylate pretreated fingerprints showed that a formulation of EuTTAPhen was the most efficient complex for providing the best luminescence intensity of the treated fingerprints, a Stokes shift of 262 nm, and reduced practical drawbacks. 8 figures, 1 table, and 6 references

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