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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Synthesis of Indoxyl-glycosides for Detection of Glycosidase Activities
Published on: May 27, 2015
The use of indigo derivatives to dye denim material
M C Grieve1, T W Biermann, K Schaub
1Forensic Science Institute, Bundeskriminalamt, Wiesbaden, Germany.
Abstract:
Recently, attention was again drawn to the use of microspectrophotometry to distinguish between fibres dyed with indigo and seven derivative dyes. Under normal circumstances, fibres dyed with indigo (Vat Blue 1 or CI Number 73000) are not included in fibre-transfer examinations as, being ubiquitous, they do not usually have any evidential value. Indigo substitutes are used for fashion dyeing. If their use is widespread, the assumption that all denim material is dyed with Vat Blue 1 may need revising. A positive finding might make it necessary to reconsider the use of certain denim fabrics as capable of providing target fibres. Fibres from 160 samples of denim articles in current use were examined by microspectrophotometry to determine whether either indigo derivative dyes, or other dyes, had been used instead of the traditional indigo.
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