DETECTION OF PERFLUORINATED TAGGANTS IN ELECTRIC BLASTING CAPS BY ELECTRON CAPTURE MONITORS (FROM NEW CONCEPTS SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES - PROCEEDINGS, 1978 - SEE NCJ-58392)

• NCJ Number: 58397
• Author(s): R N DIETZ; R W GOODRICH; E A COTE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATIONS OF THREE TYPES OF MONITORS OR DETECTING INSTRUMENTS FOR DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF PERFLUORINATED TAGGANTS ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

TAGGING EXPLOSIVE DEVICES FOR DETECTION PRIOR TO DETONATION AND IDENTIFICATION AFTER SUCH CLANDESTINE USE HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN SAVING LIVES, REDUCING PROPERTY DAMAGE, LOWERING INVESTIGATIVE COSTS, AND INCREASING THE CHANCES FOR TRACKING DOWN BOMBERS AND OBTAINING CONVICTIONS. EACH OF THE THREE INSTRUMENTS EVALUATED IN THIS STUDY--A PORTABLE, CONTINUOUS, REAL-TIME MONITOR, A PORTABLE, CONCENTRATING CHROMATOGRAPH, AND A FIXED-STATION, HIGH-SENSITIVITY CHROMATOGRAPH--HAVE BEEN USED FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF PERFLUORINATED TAGGANTS IN ATMOSPHERIC TRACER STUDIES. THE PORTABLE CONTINUOUS MONITOR, WHICH HAS A DETECTION CAPABILITY OF TWO PARTS OF TAGGANT IN ONE TRILLION PARTS OF AIR, HAS BEEN USED IN THREE FIELD TRACER STUDIES ON BOARD AIRCRAFT. THE SENSITIVITY AND RESPONSE TIME OF SUCH A SYSTEM IN SITUATIONS REQUIRING CONTINUOUS ONLINE SCREENING OF CHECKED AND HAND-CARRIED LUGGAGE AT AIRPORTS HAS PROVEN TO BE MORE THAN ADEQUATE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 5-MINUTE REPETITIVE SAMPLING RATES, FOR A SMALL CONCENTRATING FIELD INSTRUMENT, WILL ULTIMATELY PROVIDE LIMITS OF DETECTION FOR THE TAGGANT COMPOUNDS. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF SUCH A SYSTEM INCLUDE DETECTING VAPOR-TAGGED EXPLOSIVES IN MEETING ROOMS, CORRIDORS AND PASSAGEWAYS, AND ON BOARD AIRCRAFT. CHARTS, GRAPHS, AND STATISTICAL TABLES PRESENTING STUDY RESULTS ARE PROVIDED ALONG WITH REFERENCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--KCP)