Photo‐ and Thermal‐Degradation Studies of Select Eccrine Fingerprint Constituents |
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Authors: | Giorgia De Paoli PhD Samuel A Lewis Sr MS Ellyn L Schuette MS Linda A Lewis PhD Raynella M Connatser PhD Tivadar Farkas PhD |
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Institution: | 1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethel Valley Road, Building 4500N, Rm. F56, MS 6120, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.;2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NTRC Building MS 6159, 2360 Cherahala Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37932.;3. Phenomenex, Inc., 411 Madrid Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501. |
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Abstract: | Abstract: Photo‐ and thermal‐degradation studies on eccrine fingerprint components are presented herein. Dilute distinct solutions of urea, lactic acid, and seven amino acids were deposited on steel coupons and Teflon® disks, exposed to artificial sunlight or heat, extracted, and analyzed. This aim of this study was to determine whether the investigated eccrine components, previously determined to be Raman active for a parallel study, experienced photo‐ or thermally induced degradation, and if so, to determine the rate and identify any detectable products. Neither the amino acids nor urea exhibited photo‐degradation; however, when heated for a period of three minutes, the onset of thermal‐degradation was initiated at 100°C for the amino acids and 100°C for urea. Lactic acid, the major polymerization initiator of superglue fuming, showed photochemical and thermal‐degradation. These results could be used for future development of new latent fingerprint visualization methods, especially when lactic acid is degraded. |
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Keywords: | forensic science latent fingerprint fingerprint chemistry artificial eccrine fingerprint photo‐degradation thermal‐degradation liquid chromatography‐electrospray mass spectrometry atmospheric pressure chemical ionization‐mass spectrometry |
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