Rapid screening of explosives in ambient environment by aerodynamic assisted thermo desorption mass spectrometry

Abstract

Rapid, direct, and trace detection of explosives in an open environment is of particular need in homeland and/or transportation security. In this work, an aerodynamic assisted thermo desorption mass spectrometry method was developed for the direct quantitative analyses of explosives from a distance. Remote non-volatile explosive sensing was achieved for 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene, trinitrohexahydro-1, 3, 5-triazine, 8701 (main ingredient: RDX 98.5%), and C4 (a type of plastic explosive) with a distance of 0.65 m. Furthermore, a close to 324 cm effective sampling area could be achieved, and the limits of detection are in the ng range. This device can be deployed in airports and subway stations for high-throughput and automatic luggage/personnel screening of prohibited articles, such as explosives and illicit drugs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ambient Pressure Laser Desorption—Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Fast and Reliable Detection of Explosives, Drugs, and Their Precursors

“…Table 3 summaries compared analytical techniques and achieved LODs. In detail, the APLD allows similar LODs compared to Raman spectroscopy [36], ion mobility spectrometry [37], and thermal desorption (TD) MS [38,39]. Compared to APLD, desorption spray ionization (DESI) achieves better LODs for explosives [40] with the disadvantage of a more complex setup and the need of a liquid solvent supply.…”

Recent advances in ambient mass spectrometry of trace explosives

“…The AATD-APCI platform uses a heated gas jet for the thermal desorption of analytes, which is coupled with aerodynamically-assisted vapor collection and transport through a corona discharge. The large gas jet enables a relatively large sampling area of 324 cm 2 139 . The VENTI platform incorporates multiple Venturi-based components for the collection and transport of vapors and aerosols from non-proximate locations through a multi-meter sampling probe for real-time APCI-MS analysis.…”

“…151 A number of similar multimode or hybrid techniques have taken advantage of decoupling thermal desorption from the ionization processes, providing more direct control over each. These include an LTP platform incorporating non-contact heating of the target surface by a halogen lamp, 103 as well as thermal desorption of swab collections, 134 infrared thermal desorption (IRTD) of wipe collections, 136 and aerodynamic assisted thermal desorption, 139 all coupled to implementations of corona discharge ionization.…”

“…Additional plasma-, discharge-, and hybrid-based platforms have also found success in the direct sampling, ionization, and detection of nitrate-based explosive vapors and aerosols. 95, 139, 153, 157 Ma et al used an APGD source for the direct analysis of RDX and TNT vapors from complex soil samples. 153 Other vapor sampling platforms have developed avenues for enhancing the aerodynamic reach (distance at which vapors and aerosols can be sampled), 95 reducing chemical noise and background, 140, 141 or aerodynamically-assisting vapor collection.…”

“…153 Other vapor sampling platforms have developed avenues for enhancing the aerodynamic reach (distance at which vapors and aerosols can be sampled), 95 reducing chemical noise and background, 140, 141 or aerodynamically-assisting vapor collection. 95, 139 The VENTI platform introduced by Forbes and Staymates, demonstrated enhanced aerodynamic sampling of TNT, DNT, NG, and EGDN vapors from remote ( i.e. , multiple meters) locations.…”