Clandestine grave detector
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for detecting a burial site of human remains are disclosed. An air stream is drawn through an air intake conduit from locations near potential burial sites of human remains. The air stream is monitored by one or more chemical sensors to determine whether the air stream includes one or more indicator compounds selected from halogenated compounds, hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, acid/ester compounds, oxygen-containing compounds, and naphthalene-containing compounds. When it is determined that an indicator compound is present in the air stream, this indicates that a burial site of human remains is below or nearby. Each sensor may be in electrical communication with an indicator that signals when the sensor has detected the presence of the indicator compound in the air stream. In one form, the indicator compound is a halogenated compound and/or a hydrocarbon, and the presence of the halogenated compound and/or the hydrocarbon in the air stream indicates that a burial site of human remains is below or nearby.
- Inventors:
-
- (Oliver Springs, TN)
- Knoxville, TN
- Oak Ridge, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1034318
- Patent Number(s):
- 8074490
- Application Number:
- 11/498,705
- Assignee:
- UT-Battelle LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Citation Formats
Andrews, Jr., William H., Thompson, Cyril V, Vass, Arpad A, and Smith, Rob R. Clandestine grave detector. United States: N. p., 2011.
Web.
Andrews, Jr., William H., Thompson, Cyril V, Vass, Arpad A, & Smith, Rob R. Clandestine grave detector. United States.
Andrews, Jr., William H., Thompson, Cyril V, Vass, Arpad A, and Smith, Rob R. Tue .
"Clandestine grave detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1034318.
@article{osti_1034318,
title = {Clandestine grave detector},
author = {Andrews, Jr., William H. and Thompson, Cyril V and Vass, Arpad A and Smith, Rob R},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and a method for detecting a burial site of human remains are disclosed. An air stream is drawn through an air intake conduit from locations near potential burial sites of human remains. The air stream is monitored by one or more chemical sensors to determine whether the air stream includes one or more indicator compounds selected from halogenated compounds, hydrocarbons, nitrogen-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, acid/ester compounds, oxygen-containing compounds, and naphthalene-containing compounds. When it is determined that an indicator compound is present in the air stream, this indicates that a burial site of human remains is below or nearby. Each sensor may be in electrical communication with an indicator that signals when the sensor has detected the presence of the indicator compound in the air stream. In one form, the indicator compound is a halogenated compound and/or a hydrocarbon, and the presence of the halogenated compound and/or the hydrocarbon in the air stream indicates that a burial site of human remains is below or nearby.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2011},
month = {12}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Decompositional Odor Analysis Database
journal, January 2004
- Vass, Arpad A.; Smith, Rob R.; Thompson, Cyril V.
- Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 49, Issue 4
Effects of Silcosteel- transfer line on the sampling of volatile organic compounds
journal, January 1998
- Thompson, Cyril V.; Wise, Marcus B.
- Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol. 2, Issue 5, p. 309-314