EurekAlert August 29, 2019
Paper spray mass spectrometry is a rapid and sensitive tool for explosives detection but so far it has only been demonstrated using high resolution mass spectrometry, which bears too high a cost for many practical applications. Researchers in the UK developed a system which uses swabbing material, they call “swab spray” to collect explosives from surfaces. Sensitive detection using swab spray will require a mass spectrometer with a mass resolving power of 4000 or more. The new detection method is able to analyse a wider range of materials than current thermal based detection systems used in today’s airports, while reducing false positive reports. The critical advantage of this system is the ability to uniquely identify the explosive being detected, making it much less likely to create false alarms. The selectivity of this system means that it could also be used to identify a range of other threat materials whilst the sensitivity would allow the detection of invisible traces of explosives…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE