Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100659
Pragna Gaur , Liam Engel , Damian Robert Hall , Cheang Khoo , Jerome Sarris , Daniel Perkins , Chun Guang Li , Mitchell Low
{"title":"A UHPLC-(ESI)MS/MS method for the determination of the psychedelic secondary metabolite mescaline in San Pedro (Trichocereus spp.) and its applicability for screening mescaline in other cacti varieties.","authors":"Pragna Gaur , Liam Engel , Damian Robert Hall , Cheang Khoo , Jerome Sarris , Daniel Perkins , Chun Guang Li , Mitchell Low","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Commencements of clinical trials of psychedelic therapies for intractable forms of mental illnesses have drawn increased public attention to plants containing psychedelic substances. Whilst the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline has limited clinical trials, the San Pedro (<em>Trichocereus</em> spp.) cacti from which it is found have a long history of Indigenous medical and spiritual use. Traditional use remains licit in some jurisdictions, as supervised psychedelic dosage is typically regarded as tolerable with reports of only mild intoxications and few persisting negative psychological effects. However, mescaline concentration in ornamental San Pedro is highly variable, introducing risk of unintentional low or high dosage if misdirected for illicit use. This paper reports a validated UHPLC-(ESI)MS/MS method for the convenient and rapid quantification of mescaline in San Pedro, and for screening twelve potentially untested cacti. Preliminary results indicated that there may be higher amounts of mescaline in the chlorenchyma than the parenchyma of San Pedro. While six cacti lacked detectable mescaline, our screening enabled the first quantifications of mescaline in two varieties of <em>Echinopsis subdenudata</em> from 36 μg g<sup>−1</sup> to 2.45 mg g<sup>−1</sup>. Chemotaxonomically, this amount of mescaline in a species from the traditional <em>Echinopsis</em> genus further suggests that the <em>Trichocereus</em> genus is not distinct and may support their contested combination into a single genus. Forensically, the identification of a popular ornamental cactus that was previously not known to contain mescaline demonstrates the need for routine screening of other cacti for the forensic sciences to remain ahead of emerging trends in psychedelic drug use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143760935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-04-09DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100661
Brendan M. Miller , James F. Carter , Sarah L. Cresswell , Wendy A. Loughlin , Peter N. Culshaw
{"title":"Isotope fractionation during synthesis of methamphetamine from propiophenone, NaNO2 and dimethyl carbonate","authors":"Brendan M. Miller , James F. Carter , Sarah L. Cresswell , Wendy A. Loughlin , Peter N. Culshaw","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ephedrine remains a key precursor in the production of methamphetamine. A novel ephedrine-based route to methamphetamine involved the nitrosation of propiophenone to α-isonitrosopropiophenone, followed by catalytic hydrogenation to phenylpropanolamine (± − norephedrine). Cyclization-methylation of phenylpropanolamine to 3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinone using dimethyl carbonate, followed by basic hydrolysis or catalytic hydrogenolysis formed ephedrine or methamphetamine, respectively.</div><div>An investigation into the stable isotope fractionation during the synthesis of methamphetamine from propiophenone, NaNO<sub>2</sub> and dimethyl carbonate was performed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. A negative isotopic shift was observed for <em>δ</em><sup>15</sup>N upon nitrosation of propiophenone to α-isonitrosopropiophenone, and a negative isotopic shift for <em>δ</em><sup>2</sup>H during catalytic hydrogenation of α-isonitrosopropiophenone to phenylpropanolamine. Minimal change in <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C was observed throughout the reaction until the methylation step with dimethyl carbonate, where a negative isotopic shift was observed.</div><div>The <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values for the methamphetamine presented in a similar range to methamphetamine reported in previous work where the norephedrine/norpseudoephedrine was prepared <em>via</em> different starting materials (benzaldehyde and nitroethane), confirming that similar <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values will result from fractionation during methylation with dimethyl carbonate regardless of the origin of the norephedrine/norpseudoephedrine. Chiral analysis confirmed methamphetamine to be racemic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143815982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-18DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100666
I.M. van Damme , F.Y. Linzey , G.M.H. Brust , K. Haßler , C.D. van Dijk , A.E.D.M. van der Heijden , K.D.B. Bezemer , E. de Rijke , A.W.C. Hulsbergen , A.C. van Asten
{"title":"Elemental and isotopic profiling of potassium perchlorate salts for forensic explosives investigations","authors":"I.M. van Damme , F.Y. Linzey , G.M.H. Brust , K. Haßler , C.D. van Dijk , A.E.D.M. van der Heijden , K.D.B. Bezemer , E. de Rijke , A.W.C. Hulsbergen , A.C. van Asten","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the feasibility of using isotopic and elemental signatures for the source attribution of potassium perchlorate (KClO<sub>4</sub>) salts, which can play a significant role in forensic explosives investigations. A total of 41 different reference KClO<sub>4</sub> batches were analysed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry. Rubidium was the only elemental impurity detected consistently across all reference batches. Combined with the oxygen isotopic composition, these features provide a discriminating power of 94 %. A score-based likelihood ratio (LR) system was developed also including concentrations of sodium, magnesium, chromium, and iron, which were detected in 69–98 % of the reference samples and showed significant variation between sources. The LR system employs Manhattan distance and kernel density estimation to model (dis)similarity across source comparisons. Five-fold cross validation results suggest the LR system effectively distinguishes between same-source and different-source pairs (C<sub>llr</sub> = 0.184) and can be used to report LR values of up to 74 (moderate support). Infrequently detected trace elements and chlorate concentrations allow for a more comprehensive interpretation of chemical profile analyses and should also be considered to uphold forensic integrity. A series of tests have established a reliable method for the reduction of KClO₄ to KCl for subsequent chlorine isotope ratio – mass spectrometry (<em>δ</em><sup>37</sup>Cl -IRMS) measurements, which could provide additional discriminating power. Further research is required to develop a scalable process that yields sufficient material for <em>δ</em><sup>37</sup>Cl-IRMS and to ensure that the sample preparation process yields reproducible <em>δ</em><sup>37</sup>Cl values.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-17DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100668
Jerome Mulloor, Walter B. Wilson, Lane C. Sander
{"title":"New perspectives on THCA decarboxylation and accurate GC–MS quantitation of Total THC in Cannabis using analyte protectants","authors":"Jerome Mulloor, Walter B. Wilson, Lane C. Sander","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forensic and commercial laboratories rely on well-characterized analytical methods to accurately determine total tetrahydrocannabinol (total THC), which is the sum of decarboxylated tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC) in <em>Cannabis sativa</em> samples. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 restricts the level of total THC allowed in <em>Cannabis</em> for classification as hemp for commercial purposes. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC–MS) is frequently employed for <em>Cannabis</em> measurements due to its simplicity and speed of analysis. However, several issues complicate the determination of total THC by GC–MS, which are well-documented but unresolved. In the current study, the origins of potential GC–MS method biases are investigated, and novel approaches are presented to mitigate interferences. The behavior of THCA and Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC during GC–MS analyses was studied extensively using test solutions containing their isotopically labeled analogs. A plant matrix effect was identified that significantly increased THCA and Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC responses for <em>Cannabis</em> extracts compared with calibrant solutions. A mechanism is proposed based on the interaction of THCA and Δ<sup>9</sup>-THC with silanols present on heated inlet surfaces. The use of active site blocking agents, known as analyte protectants, reduced these interactions and achieved suitable conditions for quantitation of total THC by GC–MS. When <em>Cannabis</em> plant extracts and calibrants were processed under the recommended conditions, the results were comparable to liquid chromatography with photodiode array (LC-PDA) analysis. The experimental findings ultimately provide evidence to explain the behavior of cannabinoids in the GC–MS system and offer new options for improving the accuracy of total THC measurements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100668"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100662
Rajdeep Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Prabhpreet Singh
{"title":"Rescuing fluorescence with steric hindrance: Perylene diimide based powder for latent fingerprint imaging","authors":"Rajdeep Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Prabhpreet Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We reported sterically crowded perylene diimide for rescuing its solid-state fluorescence through functionalization with bulkier hydroxyphenyl benzothiazole (<strong>PH2</strong>). The <strong>PH2</strong> has (i) λ<sub>max.</sub>at 620 nm; (ii) 28.8 % solid-state quantum yield and (iii) 100 % red colour purity calculated from CIE plot. <strong>PH2</strong> adsorbed on silica nanoparticles was utilized as a fluorescent powder for the visualization of latent fingerprints on different porous, non-porous and curved surfaces using powder-dusting methods. The LFPs were subjected to laboratory conditions simulating those in the field such as aging, temperature, UV light and humidity and we successfully demonstrated the applicability of <strong>PH2</strong>-SiO<sub>2</sub> powder for the development and visualization of ridge pattern from these degraded LFPs. We also aimed to recover LFPs from physical evidence by developing the LFPs with <strong>PH2</strong>-SiO<sub>2</sub> followed by lifting of fingerprints using adhesive tape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100662"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143842654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-03-13DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100653
Meng Jin , Zixuan Zhang , Xiaogang Lu , Qian Wang , Runli Gao , Fengxia Sun , Hongmei Wang
{"title":"Chemical attribution signatures of nordiazepam for the determination of synthetic routes","authors":"Meng Jin , Zixuan Zhang , Xiaogang Lu , Qian Wang , Runli Gao , Fengxia Sun , Hongmei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The origin of illegal drugs is a crucial aspect of forensic work, which provides valuable information for combating and investigating the secret manufacture of drugs and medicines. This paper describes the use of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) to determine the Chemical Attribution Signatures (CASs) of nordiazepam, a key precursor of diazepam, for tracking the production of diazepam. Synthetic samples were identified and classified using GC × GC-TOFMS and chemometrics. Analysis samples (<em>n</em> = 12) were collected from two synthetic nordiazepam routes; resulting in the identification of 34 possible chemical attribution markers. The finding, combined with chemometric methods, enabled the establishment of a classification prediction model for route attribution. Through cross validation of the model, it has been proven that our model has good classification performance under controlled conditions and can effectively classify samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100653"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-04-19DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100663
Colm McKeever, Eithne Dempsey
{"title":"Electrodeposition of redox materials with potential for enhanced visualisation of latent finger-marks on brass substrates and ammunition casings.","authors":"Colm McKeever, Eithne Dempsey","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrochemical methods can play a key role in the analysis of impression evidence, specifically, latent finger-marks on brass substrates and ammunition casings, the latter being commonly encountered at crime scenes in forensic casework. In adopting such techniques, forensic investigators can potentially overcome some of the challenges associated with traditional visualisation methods, the use of aggressive reagents, preservation of evidence integrity and the need for extensive sample preparation. The spatially selective deposition of conducting/redox active polymers for visualising latent finger-marks on typically low-yield brass ammunition casings is examined here, exploiting the electrodeposition of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), together with a first-time study of phenozine vs. phenothiazine monomers, and their combinations at sheet and cartridge brass. Fine tuning of electrochemical protocols and conditions together with optimised monomer feedstocks played a key role in the finger-mark visualisation quality achieved with insights into brass electrochemistry. EDOT-thionine emerged consistently as the most effective combination upon electrochemical deposition on brass sheets, revealing latent finger-marks (groomed) at the highest level of detail (level 3), including pores within the papillary ridges, using a low energy, rapid (<em>t</em> = 120 s) constant potential (<em>E</em><sub>app</sub> = 0.1 <em>V</em> vs Ag|AgCl) approach. Successful visualisation of groomed and natural (donor) latent finger-marks was achieved following exposure of brass to temperatures of 700 °C and > 15-month room temperature aging. Bespoke electrochemical cells designed to facilitate the use of ammunition casings as working electrodes produced excellent results via potential sweeping, resulting in pristine visualised latent finger-marks (groomed) of grade 3 quality with visible level 3 (> 50 %) features.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100663"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100644
Melissa Liau, Jolene Low, Kang Hua Lee, Thiam Bon Lim
{"title":"Instrumental color determination of local soils and its variation with elemental profiles","authors":"Melissa Liau, Jolene Low, Kang Hua Lee, Thiam Bon Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forensic soil comparison typically relies on qualitative color description through visual observation and side-by-side comparison with standard color chips from the Munsell Soil Color Charts to determine a color notation. Soil color distinctions are then made according to the US National Soil Survey color contrast classes. However, this approach is inherently subjective due to the variations in human examiner’s color perception, which is further influenced by factors such as light intensity, viewing angle, and background contrast. Conversely, color-measuring instruments like spectrophotometers can detect subtle color variations reliably and with greater precision, including colors falling between the chips in Munsell Soil Color Charts. Color differences between a soil pair can be expressed numerically as <span><math><mrow><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>E</mi><mn>00</mn></msub></mrow></math></span> and a threshold based on <span><math><mrow><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>E</mi><mn>00</mn></msub></mrow></math></span> to distinguish soil colors can be established for objective color comparison. In this study, the colors of soils collected from Singapore parks (soils sampled from areas within 1 m, within the same park, and across different parks) were measured quantitatively using a spectrophotometer. The occurrences of false positives and negatives were calculated and evaluated for the visual and instrumental color comparison methods. We further investigated correlations between the color discrimination threshold based on <span><math><mrow><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>E</mi><mn>00</mn></msub></mrow></math></span> and a previous survey conducted on local soil’s elemental variability. The outcome of this study will help streamline soil analysis workflows in laboratories and strengthen the interpretation of forensic comparison of local soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100644"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143139905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100646
Ziao Li , Yang Shao , Min Luo , Lingling Ma , Diandou Xu
{"title":"Application of element and isotopic fingerprint features in nuclear forensics: A review","authors":"Ziao Li , Yang Shao , Min Luo , Lingling Ma , Diandou Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nuclear forensics can provide historical evidence for nuclear materials. This can be used to verify nuclear activities or trace the origin and intended use of materials. As a comprehensive discipline, most sample analysis techniques in nuclear forensics are adaptations of existing methodologies. The elemental signatures contain fundamental information about nuclear materials, while isotope signatures also significantly impact nuclear forensic research. This paper aims to give an overview about the recent developments and the state-of-art analytical methods for elemental signatures and isotope signatures in nuclear forensics. Thorough discussions are given in this paper covering a wide range of aspects, including sample pre-treatment methods, chemical separation techniques, source preparation, mass spectrometry measurement techniques, and multidimensional statistical methods. The element and isotopic signatures discussed in this article include uranium, plutonium, rare earth elements, impurity elements, and radiochronometers. The focus is on mass spectrometry-based detection methods that have been developed to enhance the efficiency, sample throughput and high-precision measurements of nuclear forensic. A detailed discussion is provided on the performance of these techniques, particularly regarding uncertainty, relative deviation and detection limits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100646"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143394402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forensic ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-28DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2025.100650
Kristen T. Clarke , Scarlet L. Hopkins , Matthew N. Krosch , Sarah L. Cresswell , William J. Gee
{"title":"Water we waiting for? Evaluating a greener, safer, more cost-effective strategy for applying 1,2-indanedione to fingermarks on paper","authors":"Kristen T. Clarke , Scarlet L. Hopkins , Matthew N. Krosch , Sarah L. Cresswell , William J. Gee","doi":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forc.2025.100650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing fingermarks on paper-based evidence with 1,2-indanedione and zinc chloride is a fundamental evidence gathering methodology; however, the most widely-used carrier solvents to effect it, HFE-7100, will be phased out after 2025, necessitating new 1,2-indanedione formulations. While flammable hydrocarbon solvents have been suggested as suitable replacements for HFE-7100, the compromise to safety makes them unappealing long-term alternatives. This work evaluates a fundamentally different approach; a water-based, non-flammable xanthan gum gel medium hosting 1,2-indanedione that allows for detection of natural fingermarks. The optimised xanthan gum hydrogel formulation preserved fingermark ridge detail whereas the equivalent free-flowing ethanol/water-based solution did not. A natural fingermark depletion study demonstrated that hydrogels could be effective on simulated casework evidence, particularly 24 h after gel application. A validation study (<em>n</em> = 1920) comparing the 1,2-indanedione hydrogel formulation against a petroleum ether formulation found that, while the latter retained significantly better performance at this early stage of development, from a holistic frugal forensics perspective, hydrogels offer major benefits to cost and safety. This work also identified that refining the gel application method will likely improve the gel's performance, which will guide further development to deliver a safer, longer-term alternative to HFE-7100.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":324,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Chemistry","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100650"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143550583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}