An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation
Home • About Us • Laboratory Services • Forensic Science Communications • Back Issues • July 2005 • Research • Table 4: Results of complete analyses performed on...

Table 4: Results of complete analyses performed on commercial black ballpoint pen ink extractions. Two or three thin-layer chromatography spots were observed for Crystal Violet (Methyl Violet) because of the presence of demethylation products

Table 4: Results of complete analyses performed on commercial black ballpoint pen ink extractions. Two or three thin-layer chromatography spots were observed for Crystal Violet (Methyl Violet) because of the presence of demethylation products.

Ink

TLC (Dye Color)

CE Results (μep [cm2/V·s]; Identity)

UV-Vis Similarity

MALDI Mass Ions (m/z)

1

2 Purple

Pink

Yellow

+0.875 x 10–4 ; Crystal Violet   

0.00-EOF marker; Rhodamine Base B

–1.516 x 10–4 ; Metanil Yellow

96.6%

N/A

88.2%

+372.80

N/A

–352.75

2

Blue

3 Purple

–5.126 x 10–4 ; unidentified dye – see text

+0.645 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

N/A

99.2%

N/A

N/A

3

Blue

3 Purple

Unidentified dye – see text

Unidentified dyes – see text

N/A

N/A

N/A

4

3 Purple

+0.812 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

98.6%

+358.33, +372.80

5

Blue

3 Purple

–2.649 x 10–4 ; Erioglaucine

+0.747 x 10–4  ; Methyl Violet

92.0%

98.7%

N/A

N/A

6

2 Purple

Yellow

+0.732 x 10–4 ; Crystal Violet

–1.518 x 10–4 ; Metanil Yellow

99.3%

97.3%

+372.58

–352.27

7

3 Purple

1 Purple

Yellow

+0.786 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

–3.660 x 10–4 ; unidentified dye – see text

–3.305 x 10–4 ; Acid Yellow 42

98.7%

N/A

98.2%

+358.31, +372.14

N/A

N/A

8

3 Purple

+0.826 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

97.9%

+358.75, +372.86

9

3 Purple

+0.828 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

98.3%

+358.70, +372.86

10

3 Purple

+0.842 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

99.0%

N/A

11

2 Purple

Yellow

+0.343 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

–1.560 x 10–4 ; Metanil Yellow

99.0%

97.9%

+370.04

–351.55

12

3 Purple

Yellow

+0.353 x 10–4 ; Methyl Violet

–3.189 x 10–4 ; Acid Yellow 42

99.1%

99.4%

+372.37, +358.08

N/A

13

Yellow

2 Purple

Unidentified dye – see text

Unidentified dyes – see text

N/A

N/A

N/A

14

3 Purple

1 Purple

+0.756 x 10–4; Methyl Violet

–4.926 x 10–4; unidentified dye – see text

99.2%

N/A

+372.56, +358.52

N/A

15

Blue

2 Purple

Yellow

FAST compound – see text

+0.827 x 10–4; Crystal Violet

–1.519 x 10–4; Metanil Yellow

N/A

97.4%

97.3%

N/A

+375.78, +359.00

–351.64