Future Trends in CWA and TIC Detection

We have discussed various technologies employed for detection of CWA and TIC vapors. Each of those technologies offers nnique desirable as well as undesirable features. There is considerable room for improvement. Increasing detection reliability and reducing the frequency of false responses continue to be major challenges. The recent emphasis on TIC detection capability in addition to that of CWAs has also created substantial challenges for researchers and developers. Such requirements limit the number of technologies that can be effectively used. 

For example, current IMS detectors, in theory, could be made to detect diverse TIC compounds in addition to their CWA detection capability. IMS detectors attempt to identify componnds based on compound characteristics to form peaks in the mobility spectrum. Each of the targeted compounds can then be assigned a window or electronic gate to identify the substance when the instrument detects a peak in that region. Drift time varies with respect to temperature or pressure variations. Therefore, an excessively narrow drift-time window for a given compound would prevent the instrument from detecting it at temperature extremes. 

Besides the use of IMS technology, researchers are concentrating on the use of polymer coatings on microscaled sensors so that many of these sensors could be 

Extensive research opportunities exist throughout the many facets of chemistry and chemical engineering that can assist national security and homeland defense efforts. 

Cooperative research in systems analysis is required to apply the new knowledge to developing tools and products required for national security and homeland defense. 

---