| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S64912/01 |
| Title: |
Investigation of the chemistry of latent fingerprints: Foundation for new/improved methods of visualisation |
| Principal Investigator: |
Jickells, Dr S |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Life Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Kings College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
21 October 2003 |
Ends: |
20 October 2005 |
Value (£): |
178,015
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Biological & Medicinal Chem. |
| Surfaces & Interfaces |
|
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
|
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Latent fingermarks left at crime scenes need to be visualised in order to provide an image for matching purposes so that a suspect can be linked to the crime. As latent prints age chemical changes take place which reduce the efficiency of some visualisation techniques, resulting in loss of potentially vital evidence. There is scant information available as to what these changes are. A fuller understanding of the chemistry of latent fingerprints is required to enable application of the most appropriate current visualisation techniques and development of new, more effective, methods. There are also indications that it may be possible to glean information about an individual from chemical analysis of a print; information which could be used in intelligence led policing. The chemistry of latent fingerprints will be investigated using GC-MS, LC-MS and LC-NMR techniques. The effects of ageing on endogenous lipids and amino acids will be studied, identifying and quantifying starting substances and new products formed as a result of chemical changes. Parallel visualisation studies will be carried out to provide the vital link between visualisation techniques and chemical substrates. A in-situ method for chemical characterisation of prints will be developed, with FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy and microthermal analysis evaluated as potential candidates. MS and LC-NMR studies will also be carried out to investigate the potential for fingerprint chemistry to provide 'individual characterisation'.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
|