Trace explosives sampling for security applications (TESSA) study: Evaluation of procedures and methodology for contact sampling efficiency
[1];
[4];
[2];
[3]
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)
- Signature Science LLC, Austin, TX (United States)
- US Department of Homeland Security, Atlantic City, NJ (United States). Transportation Security Laboratory
We report the detection of trace amounts of explosive materials is critical to the security at mass transit centers (e.g., airports and railway stations). In a typical screening process, a trap is used to probe a surface of interest to collect and transfer particulate residue to a detector for analysis. The collection of residues from the surface being probed is widely viewed as the limiting step in this process. A multi-institutional study was performed to establish a methodology for the evaluation of sampling media collection efficiencies. Dry deposited residues of 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), C-4 (an RDX-based explosive), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were harvested from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, ballistic nylon (NYL), and uncoated aluminum surfaces using muslin, Texwipe cotton, and stainless-steel mesh traps. Transfer and collection efficiencies of the sample media were calculated based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Dry transfer efficiencies (DTE%) to all tested surfaces were greater than 75%, with transfer to ABS plastic being the lowest. Collection efficiency (CE%) varied significantly across the traps and the surfaces, yet some conclusions can be drawn; nylon had the lowest CE% for all cases (~10%), and the stainless steel mesh had the lowest CE% for the evaluated traps (~20%). Though the testing parameters have been standardized among the participants to establish a framework for an independent comparison of contact sampling media and surfaces, substantial variations in the DTE% and the CE% were observed, suggesting that other variables can affect contact sampling.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-06OR23100; 2013-St-061-ED0001
- OSTI ID:
- 1981775
- Journal Information:
- Talanta, Vol. 234, Issue C; ISSN 0039-9140
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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