Sustainable Nanotechnology in Forensics: Advances in Latent Fingerprint Development Using Plant-based Materials

This research explores the application of green nanotechnology in latent fingerprint development using nanoparticles derived from plant waste materials. Rice husk, neem, potato, lemon, and orange peels were evaluated as eco-friendly nanoparticle sources. The study compared their efficacy on latent fingerprints across various surfaces, assessing clarity, ridge detail, and minutiae visualization. Rice husk nanoparticles demonstrated superior results, achieving approximately 90% fingerprint visibility across all tested surfaces, followed by neem (~85%). Potato peel nanoparticles showed moderate effectiveness (~78%), particularly on porous substrates, while lemon and orange peel nanoparticles underperformed (~72% and ~68%, respectively) with limited fine-detail resolution. Rice husk and neem NPs revealed diverse ridge features (bifurcations, deltas, islands, terminations), whereas citrus-based powders displayed fewer visible minutiae. The green synthesis approach offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to conventional methods by reducing the use of hazardous chemicals. This improvement in fingerprint clarity and detail suggests that plant waste–derived nanomaterials could serve as sustainable alternatives to toxic reagents in forensic investigations. By directly comparing five agricultural waste sources under consistent conditions, this study addresses a key knowledge gap in eco-friendly forensic techniques. These findings highlight the potential of agricultural waste–derived nanomaterials in enhancing latent fingerprint visualization. Future work will explore additional plant waste sources and practical forensic applications of these eco-friendly nanoparticles.