Year
2003
Abstract
Over the past several years, Sandia National Laboratories has pursued the development of handportable trace chemical detection systems that combine commercially available ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) detectors with sampling and preconcentration devices developed at Sandia. The Hound II works with a GE/Ion Track VaporTracer2 [3]. The total weight of this system is 25 pounds, but it is designed so that the 5-pound sampling unit can be separated from the detector for effective mobile sampling. This system can sample air at the rate of 290 liters/minute, as opposed to 1 to 2 liters/minute for the VaporTracer alone. We report laboratory testing results for common explosives such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX). We also discuss field applications in the areas of both explosives and drug detection; in the latter area, field detection of both methamphetamine and cocaine has been demonstrated. Various federal agencies and law enforcement organizations have utilized this system in the field, on a limited basis, and the results have been promising.