Development of gambir powder as a cheap and green fingerprint powder for forensic applications

Abstract

Being one of the useful and robust forensic evidence, fingerprints have been widely recognized as the primary human identification tool in forensic investigations. Latent or invisible fingerprints are commonly found at the scenes of crime and thus require the use of visualization methods. Among the established routine operational visualization method is the use of commercially available fingerprint black/white powder dusting. However, although the method is relatively fast, simple and cheap, such a method may poses harmful threats and health hazards towards the users due to the use of fine particles like titanium dioxide, lead- and mercury-based powders. This study proposes a cheap and relatively greener fingerprint powder from gambir plants. The findings revealed that gambir powder is capable of visualizing latent fingerprints on dry, non-porous surfaces. Further study revealed that the quality of gambir-visualised fingerprints were influenced by the particle size of finely ground gambir powder, as well as the types of non-porous surface used. While relatively coarse gambir powder (0.250mm) was more suitable for fingerprints on glass slides and transparent plastics, finer particles of 0.125mm was considerably better for plastic cups, compact discs and aluminium foils. Hence, the findings reported here may serve as stepping stones for future study exploration into greener fingerprint visualization technology.