Chemical agents and explosives

Detection and quantification of trace chemicals are a major thrust of analytical chemistry. In recent years, much effort has been put into developing detection systems for priority pollutants. Less mature are the detections of substances of interest to law enforcement and security personnel narcotics, chemical agents, and explosives. This volume will discuss the detection of the latter, emphasizing explosive detection both because of its public importance and because it has undergone remarkable developments in the last decade. 

Mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry are well-established analytical techniques that are heavily used by the DOD. These deviees are used as detectors of chemical agents and explosives in fact, ion mobility spectrometry is currently being nsed in most U.S. airports for explosives deteetion. Mass spectrometry is simrtltaneously broadband and specific—molecttlar masses provide exquisitely speerfie identification of chemical agents, preettrsors, traee explosives, and sneh materials. Of course, established methods ean and shottld always be improved. 

The technical approach to the demilitarization programs is a total systems approach to the potential personnel safety and environmental problems associated "with lethal chemical agents and explosives. The general areas of consideration are illustrated in Inclosure 7 ... 

General Atomics is part of a team contracted by the United States Army to design, build, and operate a facility to destroy the stockpile of chemical weapons located in Richmond, Kentucky. p, jpg proposed process, all chemical agent and explosive materials will first be hydrolyzed in hot caustic or water, with the resulting hydrolysate then destroyed by SCWO. The SCWO portion will be based on General Atomics design. 

The Army has limited and often imprecise information about the nature and extent of buried chemical materiel. However, it has begun to develop site characterization, excavation, removal, and treatment procedures for the burial sites. Since burial was considered to be the final disposal act, little record-keeping was done for burial activities and additional sites are likely to be identified. Available records indicate that some burial sites may contain active chemical agents and explosives therefore, they pose a threat to human health and the environment. 

Lewis N. S., Electronic nose chip microsensors for chemical agent and explosives detection, California Institute of Technology Noyes Laboratory, Pasadena, and California... 

During the Belgian tests, occasional breakthronghs of organic vapors from the filter system were detected. Further development will be necessary to ensure that no emissions occur. The solids, which are contaminated with chemical agent and explosives residnes, were sent to a commercial hazardous waste incinerator for disposal. 

The Order imposes a number of specific duties in relation to the fire precautions to be taken. The Order provides for the enforcement of the Order, appeals, offences and connected matters. The Order also gives effect in England and Wales to parts of a number of EC Directives including the Framework, Workplace, Chemical Agents and Explosive Atmospheres Directives. 

See also Chemical agent and explosives lists and Scientific Tables. 

Many materials of interest for security applications including explosives, chemical agents, and biological agents have characteristic THz spectra that can be used to fingerprint and thereby identify these concealed materials (Fig. 1). 

Today, DDESB is concerned with the same explosives safety aspects of munitions manufacture, storage, transportation, and disposal as was recommended by Congress in 1928. An additional functional area added in 1968 by the Secretary of Defense is the establishment of chemical safety standards and a chemical safety program for chemical agents and components of chemical ammunition. 

Chemoselective hydrogen-bonded acid polymers are at the heart of many electronic nose chemical point detection sensor systems. These polymers selectively adsorb chemical agents or explosives over extended periods of time (minutes, hours, days). Relatively thick polymer films and/or hyperporous structures allow rapid vapor sorption. Material properties are selected to allow vapor sorption, but not desorption, at ambient conditions. Heating allows the trapped agent to be released for analyses. 

After the munitions are disassembled and drained of agents, the munitions components, metal parts, chemical agents, and packaging will be destroyed or decontaminated in four different furnaces. Rocket segments, land mines, and explosive components will be destroyed in a deactivation furnace capable of containing explosions and surges of agent. Projectiles... 

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