AFTE Store - Phenyltrihydroxyfluorone: A ‘New’ Reagent for use in GunshotResidue Testing

A colorimetric reagent, phenyltrihydroxyfluorone (PTF), long uses in European and Russian forensic laboratories for visualizing antimony residues is virtually unknown in the United States. This reagent offers some unique opportunities in specific cases. Phenyltrihydroxyfluorone [9-phenyl-2,3,7-trihydroxy-6-fluorone] complexes with an oxide of antimony much in the same way as the sodium rhodizonate test for lead in gunshot residue patterns on garments and some other surfaces. The selective reagent may be useful in cases where the presence of antimony-containing gunshot residues could resolve an issue or question of forensic importance as will be illustrated in this paper.