Using Ninhydrin to Detect Gravesoil*

• Published in: Journal of Forensic Sciences
• Main Authors: Carter, David O., Yellowlees, David, Tibbett, Mark
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2008
• Subjects: Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00681.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1556-4029.2008.00681.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00681.x

Abstract: Some death scene investigations commence without knowledge of the location of the body and/or decomposition site. In these cases, it is necessary to locate the remains or the site where the body decomposed prior to movement. We hypothesized that the burial of a mammalian cadaver will result in the release of ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN) into associated soil and that this reaction might have potential as a tool for the identification of clandestine graves. Juvenile rat ( Rattus rattus ) cadavers were buried in three contrasting soil types in Australian tropical savanna ecosystems and allowed to decompose over a period of 28 days. Soils were sequentially harvested and analyzed for NRN. Cadaver burial resulted in an approximate doubling (mean = 1.7 ± 0.1) in the concentration of soil NRN. This reaction has great potential to be used as a presumptive test for gravesoil and this use might be greatly enhanced following more detailed research.