Towards Fingermark Dating : A Raman Spectroscopy Proof-of-Concept Study

• Fingermarks have, for a long time, been vital in the forensic community for the identification of individuals, and a possibility to non-destructively date the fingermarks would of course be beneficial. Raman spectroscopy is, herein, evaluated for the purpose of estimating the age of fingermarks deposits. Well-resolved spectra were non-destructively acquired to reveal spectral uniqueness, resembling those of epidermis, and several molecular markers were identified that showed different decay kinetics: carotenoids > squalene > unsaturated fatty acids > proteins. The degradation rates were accelerated, less pronounced for proteins, when samples were stored under ambient light conditions, likely owing to photo-oxidation. It is hypothesized that fibrous proteins are present and that oxidation of amino acid side chains can be observed both through Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. Clearly, Raman spectroscopy is a useful technique to non-destructively study the aging processes of fingermarks.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

aging

fingermarks

fluorescence spectroscopy

forensics

Raman spectroscopy

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