International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Powder dusting is one of the oldest methods used in forensic science for detecting latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces. The latent fingerprint visualization from chemicals is toxic and poses potential health hazards. Large quantities of plant waste are generated during the consumption and processing of fruits and vegetables. Waste management is an upcoming crisis faced by the world. The environmentally friendly disposal of plant waste is a challenging task. Properly managed and utilized plant wastes are a natural resource that can produce economic returns. Plant waste can produce biofuels, fertilizers, and decorative items. In the present study plant wastes are made into a powder form for the development of cheaper and more effective latent fingerprint powder for superior visualization. The biochar production from plant wastes by pyrolysis is achieving immense attention and supplying biochar sustainably. Chemically it is a char black carbon that contains a large fraction of organic matter. The current study is proposing a new powder method, which is effortless, non-toxic to human health, inexpensive, and simple in nature, and can also be utilized to improve soil fertility. Biochar strengthens the growth of plants by preventing the roots from getting affected by pathogens. In this study, four different plant wastes such as dried leaves of the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) are collected to produce biochar for fingerprint development. Biochar is a solid, carbon-rich product that gets mechanically adhered to the sweat residue defining the ridge pattern.

Keywords: Powder, Plant waste, Latent fingerprint, Biochar, Peepal tree.