Bomb Detection System Study

Among the systems that have been proposed for the detection of bombs in air terminals and aircraft, those based on the detection of vapors of explosives have not been sufficiently investigated. The present study was conducted to determine whether suitable vapor-sensing systems are feasible now or in the near future. Common explosives were found to emanate characteristic vapors that could be detected in amounts down to 2 x 10 to the -10th g by using a gas-chromatographic procedure developed for this purpose. A polar stationary phase and an electron-capture detector were employed. The presence of dynamites and other typical explosives in simple geometries could be detected through air analysis in less than 1 min. Most of the common irrelevant contaminants did not interfere with the detection process a few did to some extent, but routine means which are available can eliminate the interferences. It is concluded that a bomb-sniffer is within the range of foreseeable technology. Development of sampling techniques and escalation of the sensitivity of the analytical subsystem are recommended as the most important future tasks.