Real time detection of volatile explosives by checking residues adhering to IC-card

Abstract

To detect explosives at train stations, shopping malls and sports stadiums, etc, we have developed a vapor sampler for checking residues adhering to an IC-card. The design of the vapor sampler is similar to the IC-card reader of an automated ticket gate used for a train station. When a passenger puts a hand and an IC-card close to the sampler, vaporized volatile explosives emitted from any explosives residues adhering to the hand and/or IC-card are collected by a push-pull type vapor sampler. Any vapor collected by the sampling port is sent to a mass spectrometer and analyzed in real time. We demonstrated that we can cloud detect volatile explosives, such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) within one second. Therefore, we concluded that the combination of our vapor sampler and the mass spectrometer would be a powerful tool for improving security in places where many people are coming and going. © 2013 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.