Comparative Study of Metal Oxide Powders for Revealing Latent Fingerprints on Various Nonporous Surfaces

Dheaa  Zageer; Evon  Akram; Raghda  Alsayed; Suhaib Q.  Abdulla; Mohammed H.   Al-Mashhadani; Emad  Yousif; Shams  Ismael; Mohammed S.S.  Alyami; Waled Abdo  Ahmed

doi:10.47419/bjbabs.v6i4.428

Authors

Dheaa Zageer Department of Forensic Chemistry, Higher Institute of Forensic Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2216-9774
Evon Akram Department of Forensic Chemistry, Higher Institute of Forensic Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0150-6543
Raghda Alsayed Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0903-5301
Suhaib Q. Abdulla Physics Department, College of Science AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7306-457X
Mohammed H. Al-Mashhadani Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1950-7587
Emad Yousif Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1458-4724
Shams Ismael Department of Medical Physics, College of Sciences, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2380-3151
Mohammed S.S. Alyami Department of Science, King Abdulaziz Military College, Riyadh 14514, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8190-2470
Waled Abdo Ahmed Faculty of Education, Thamar University , Thamar 87246, Yemen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8185-833X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47419/bjbabs.v6i4.428

Keywords:

Fingerprint, forensic science, metal oxides, transparent glass, black marble, phone screen

Abstract

Latent fingerprints are left behind on various surfaces when a person touches an object, often
invisible to the naked eye. The process of detecting these fingerprints and enhancing their visibility is vital for identifying perpetrators in criminal cases. Contrast, resolution, and the ability to see tiny details are all impacted by the different ways in which different agents interact with fingerprint residues and substrates. Surface type, residue composition, environmental variables, and safety issues all influence the best option. Empirical testing is often necessary to determine the most effective reagent for a particular forensic scenario. Several metal oxide powders, including CaO, ZrSiO₄, B₂O₃, TiO₂, and CdO, were used in this study to evaluate fingerprint detection on surfaces such phone screens, transparent glass, and black marble. Because of their high adhesion, clarity, and compatibility with various surfaces, ZrSiO₄ worked best on glass, B₂O₃ on black marble, and CdO on phone displays.