Fast Response Chemical Sensor for Landmine Multi-Detector Device

In Phase I, Implant Sciences Corp. (ISC) constructed an early prototype cyclone vapor sampling system with an integrated surface heater to extract explosives and ERC vapors from soil samples and to deliver the extracted vapors to a chemical detector. Thephysical design of the cyclone unit and its operating parameters were highly optimized. Phase I results are very promising. In its current state, the cyclone module excludes particulates from the collected sample vapors, which is helpful in minimizingcontamination of the detector, and can operate in crosswinds of up to 4 mph without significant loss of sample vapors to the ambient air. With the prototype sampling system interfaced to ISC's ultra-sensitive Laser IMS system, the ability to detect ppmppb concentrations of TNT and RDX in two types of soil was demonstrated, with a response time significantly less than one second. By the end of Phase I, a prototype device will be available for field testing. In Phase II, the design of the cyclone unitand the sample heater will be further optimized for a portable unit, and all components will be combined and modified as necessary to work as a complete system and to minimize size, weight and power consumption.Implant Sciences Corporation has developed anexplosives detection system which uses a cyclone vapor sampling module to extract trace explosives and ERC vapors from the environment and to direct the vapors into an ultra-sensitive Laser IMS system. This technology can be used to create a rapid-responsechemical detector system to confirm or disprove the presence of buried land mines with a false-positive response rate substantially lower than those of currently employed portable explosives detectors. Since the detection of buried land mines is moredifficult than many explosives detection tasks, the technologies developed in this effort could easily be adapted for use in general explosives detection, for which there is a large and growing application base in the strengthening of homeland security andin improving the security of, e.g., the airline, shipping, power and chemical industries.