A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Explosives detection by swabbing for improvised explosive devices
Swabs taken from the surface of a suspicious object are a standard method of identifying a concealed explosive device in security-conscious locations like airports. In this paper we demonstrate a sensitive method to collect and detect trace explosive residues from improvised explosive devices using swabs and an optical sensor element. Swabs coated with a commercial fluoropolymer are used to collect material and are subsequently heated to thermally desorb the explosives, causing the quenching of light emission from a thin film luminescent sensor. We report the sorption and desorption characteristics of swabs loaded with 2,4-DNT tested with Super Yellow fluorescence sensors in a laboratory setting, with detection that is up to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than standard colorimetric tests. The method was then applied in field tests with raw military-grade explosives TNT, PETN and RDX, on various objects containing the explosives, and post-blast craters. We show for the first time results using organic semiconductors to detect sub-milligram amounts of explosive sorbed onto a substrate from real explosives in the field, giving a promising new approach for IED detection.
Explosives detection by swabbing for improvised explosive devices
Swabs taken from the surface of a suspicious object are a standard method of identifying a concealed explosive device in security-conscious locations like airports. In this paper we demonstrate a sensitive method to collect and detect trace explosive residues from improvised explosive devices using swabs and an optical sensor element. Swabs coated with a commercial fluoropolymer are used to collect material and are subsequently heated to thermally desorb the explosives, causing the quenching of light emission from a thin film luminescent sensor. We report the sorption and desorption characteristics of swabs loaded with 2,4-DNT tested with Super Yellow fluorescence sensors in a laboratory setting, with detection that is up to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than standard colorimetric tests. The method was then applied in field tests with raw military-grade explosives TNT, PETN and RDX, on various objects containing the explosives, and post-blast craters. We show for the first time results using organic semiconductors to detect sub-milligram amounts of explosive sorbed onto a substrate from real explosives in the field, giving a promising new approach for IED detection.
Explosives detection by swabbing for improvised explosive devices
Glackin, James Michael Edward (author) / Gillanders, Ross Neil (author) / Eriksson, Frans (author) / Fjällgren, Marcus (author) / Engblom, Joachim (author) / Mohammed, Salam (author) / Samuel, Ifor David William (author) / Turnbull, Graham (author)
2020-10-05
Glackin , J M E , Gillanders , R N , Eriksson , F , Fjällgren , M , Engblom , J , Mohammed , S , Samuel , I D W & Turnbull , G 2020 , ' Explosives detection by swabbing for improvised explosive devices ' , Analyst . https://doi.org/10.1039/D0AN01312A
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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