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3140509 
Journal Article 
Latent Fingerprint Development on Thermal Paper Using Traditional Ninhydrin and 1,2-indanedione 
Chen, CC; Yu, YC; Lee, HC; Giang, YS; Wang, SM 
2015 
Yes 
Journal of Forensic Sciences
ISSN: 0022-1198
EISSN: 1556-4029 
English 
26248596 
Thermal paper poses a significant challenge to latent print development as it tends to change color when traditional fingerprint development formulations are applied to it. In this study, the optimal components of ninhydrin, 1,2-indanedione, 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO), and 5-methylthioninhydrin (5-MTN) for yielding clear fingerprints on thermal paper were determined by systematically adjusting the relative amounts of the reagents, polar solvents, and the nonpolar diluent petroleum ether, followed by validation on text-printed thermal paper. Specifically, 3.0% ethyl acetate as the polar solvent in petroleum ether was found to be the optimal combination; the optimal dilution ratios of ninhydrin, DFO, and 5-MTN original solutions with petroleum ether were 1 to 2, 11, and 7, respectively. The optimal concentration of 1,2-indanedione in petroleum ether was 0.125 g/L, with a string of 0.5% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether.