Homeland security explosive detection

Applications of PTR.-MS to Homeland Security The Detection of Threat Agents 313 Table 8.1 Comparison of the properties of some common solid explosives... 

Detection of explosives is of major importance in several applications related to homeland security, such as detecting hidden explosives in airport luggage, in vehicles and in mail and screening of personnel for concealed explosives. 

Explosives Detection Trace Portal Deployed to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 12 April 2005, U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration... 

Department of Homeland Security S T-HSARPA Washington, DC, 20528 Ph 202.254.6132 (Keith Ward/Angela Ervin) www.dhs.gov R D, sensors, counter-mine warfare, improvised explosives, airborne surveillance, bio-aerosol detection, container security, and vehicle IED protection. 

O. M. Primera-Pedrozo, L. C. Pacheco-Londono, L. F. De la Torre-Quintana, S. P. Hemandez-Rivera, R T. Chamberlain and R. T. Lareau, Use of fiber optic coupled FT-IR in detection of explosives on surfaces. Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense III Edward M. Carapezza m.,Proc. SPIE, 5403,237-245 (2004). 

R D efforts at the US Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, R D Division include near- and long-range programs for the development of novel MEMS/NEMS based trace explosives detection systems. These efforts include the development of novel miniaturized front-end collection systems, for the collection of explosive particles and/or vapour, followed by preconcentration and delivery to several MEMS/NEMS based sensors. A few examples of sensor projects currently under development include ... 

The past decade may be characterized by an intense research effort to improve the sensitivity and reliability of ion mobility-based instruments for detection of explosives and to expand the inventory of detectable explosive substances. In addition, improvements in sampling techniques have been proposed, standards for calibration of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) instruments and for method verification have been developed, and novel instrumental techniques based on laser ablation or electrospray ionization have been advanced. This has occurred due to the rising need for rapid, efficient, and reliable detectors of explosives that are used in acts of terrorism worldwide, as stated in many occasions (see Rame 12.1). Some idea about the scale of this trend can be gained from a recent report Austin, TX, 15 Septanber, 2011—Sales of Explosives, Weapons, and Contraband (EWC) Detection equipment to the world s airport authorities, amassed a significant 834.9 million in 2010, according to a recent study published by IMS Research, a leading provider of market research in the homeland security industry. ... 

Various mass spectrometers such as a single quadrupole, triple quadrupole, and quadrupole ITMSs are used for the detection of explosives. However, the ITMS has several advantages for homeland security applications. For example, the quadrupole ion trap has high sensitivity with a full scan mode and has tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) capabilities. Furthermore, the quadrupole ion trap is robust, and complicated calibrations are not necessary with this instrument format. 

---