Detection of Contraband and Drugs of Abuse Using An Ultrafast SAW/GC Vapor Analyzer

摘要

The first electronic nose using Ultrafast SAW/GC technology has been designed for security applications. Based upon ultra-high speed gas chromatography, it is a powerful new tool for detection of odors and chemical vapors produced by explosives, chemical and biological weapons, contraband of all kinds, hazardous industrial materials, improvised explosives, and even flammables. It is a true electronic nose, incorporating a new type of solid-state chemical sensor with part-per-trillion sensitivity and universal selectivity. In essence it misses nothing and can be trained to recognize and alert to any target odor signature. Unlike trace detectors, electronic noses recognize odors and fragrances based upon their full chemical signature. An electronic nose is able to detect all compounds within an odor and provide a complete chemical profile. An expandable library of over 700 chemicals and odor signatures allows it to recognize virtually any target odor. Using ultra-high speed chromatography to separate chemicals within an odor in near real time, pattern recognition and trace detection using virtual chemical sensors can be performed at the same time. Trace detection combined with odor profiling can be an effective method for recognizing the presence of contraband material of all kinds. Electronic odor profiles are instrument independent allowing security users to distribute and share odor signatures. Chemical sensor arrays have interested developers of security screening systems for some time, yet physical sensors have limited performance because of overlapping responses, physical instability, and low sensitivity. Using ultra-high speed gas chromatography, arrays of virtual chemical sensors with non-overlapping response are now possible. Long term stability coupled with picogram sensitivity allows the use of artificial intelligence, neural networks, and pattern recognition algorithms to detect and recognize an unlimited number of threat vapors.