Application of eggshells and seashells for latent fingermark development

• Main Author: Said, Nur Fatin Nabihah
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2025
• Subjects: R Medicine; RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine; RA440-440.87 Study and teaching. Research
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/63208/

Fingerprint identification remains an essential aspect in the field of forensic science, being a reliable tool for identifying suspects and reconstructing criminal events. The current research explores the possibility of producing fingerprint powders from eggshells (ES) and seashells (SS), two widely available biowaste products that are mainly made up of calcium carbonate. The characterisation of ES and SS powders using FTIR, SEM, and EDX methods demonstrated that both the magnetic and non-magnetic types are efficient green alternatives for the development of latent fingermarks. The magnetic type is especially suitable for application on sensitive or valuable surfaces. A Friedman test revealed considerable differences in the development of latent fingermarks among the various powders, with a p-value noted at less than 0.001. Magnetic eggshell powder (MES) proves to be the best natural alternative for use on non-porous surfaces, exhibiting a durability profile that allows for multiple recovery attempts. Magnetic seashell powder (MSS) exhibited the most consistent detail in microscopic ridge patterns, showing great potential as an eco-friendly substitute for commercially magnetic powders in the development of latent fingermarks rich in amino acids, cholesterol, and squalene on non-porous surfaces. Non-magnetic ES and SS powders performed well in the case of DL-serine-based deposits. MES and MSS powders showed great promise as environmentally friendly alternatives to palmitic acid-based fingerprints. In addition, both magnetic and non-magnetic variants exhibited the most pronounced ridge definition for lactic acid-rich fingerprints, indicating their great potential for the development of hydrophilic residues. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the type of powder did not significantly affect fingermark scores for either heat ageing (p = 0.998) or submersion ageing (p = 0.903). This means that fingermark development was similar across all powder types in both conditions. In contrast, fingermark scores varied significantly among the ten surface types examined (p < 0.001 for both ageing studies). Natural powders derived from ES and SS, especially their magnetic forms, had shown competitive, and often better, performance than commercial powder under water exposure. On the other hand, their non-magnetic powder had proven to be remarkably resilient under different conditions, especially when subjected to high heat. In summary, this research offers valuable information on the forensic process relating to natural resource powders, moving the field towards a green and safe method for latent fingermark visualisation