A Critical Review of Ion Mobility Spectrometry for the Detection of Explosives and Explosive Related Compounds
Ion mobility spectrometry has become the most successful and widely used technology for the detection of trace levels of nitro-organic explosives on handbags and carry on-luggage in airports throughout the US. The low detection limits are provided by the efficient ionization process, namely, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) reactions in negative polarity. An additional level of confidence in a measurement is imparted by characterization of ions for mobilities in weak electric fields of a drift tube at ambient pressure. Findings from over 30 years of investigations into IMS response to these explosives have been collected and assessed to allow a comprehensive view of the APCI reactions characteristic of nitro-organic explosives. Also, the drift tube conditions needed to obtain particular mobility spectra have been summarized. During the past decade, improvements have occurred in IMS on the understanding of reagent gas chemistries, the influence of temperature on ion stability, and sampling methods. In addition, commercial instruments have been refined to provide fast and reliable measurements for on-site detection of explosives. The gas phase ion chemistry of most explosives is mediated by the fragile C---ONO2 bonds or the acidity of protons. Thus, M- or M·Cl- species are found with only a few explosives and loss of NO2, NO3 and proton abstraction reactions are common and complicating pathways. However, once ions are formed, they appear to have stabilities on time scales equal to or longer than ion drift times from 5–20 ms. As such, peak shapes in IMS are suitable for high selectivity and sensitivity.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- OSTI ID:
- 912136
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/JOU-00-01280; TLNTA2; TRN: US0800282
- Journal Information:
- Talanta, Vol. 54, Issue 3; ISSN 0039-9140
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIRPORTS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CHEMISTRY
DETECTION
DRIFT TUBES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EXPLOSIVES
ION DRIFT
ION MOBILITY
IONIZATION
PH VALUE
PROTONS
SAMPLING
SENSITIVITY
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
STABILITY
Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization
Explosives
Ion mobility spectrometry