Detecting trace amounts of explosives is important for maintaining national security due to the growing threat of terror attacks. Particularly challenging is the increasing use of homemade explosives. Therefore, there is a constant need to improve existing technologies for detecting trace amounts of explosives. This paper describes the design of a stationary device (a gate) for detecting trace amounts of explosives and explosive taggants and the design of differential ion mobility spectrometers with a focus on the gas system. Nitromethane (NM), trimeric acetone peroxide (TATP), hexamine peroxide (HMTD), and explosive taggants 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) and 4-nitrotoluene (4NT) were used in this study. Gate measurements were carried out by taking air from the hands, pocket area, and shoes of the tested person. Two differential ion mobility spectrometers operating in two different modes were used as explosive detectors: a mode with a semi-permeable membrane to detect explosives with high vapor pressures (such as TATP) and a mode without a semi-permeable membrane (using direct introduction of the sample into the measuring chamber) to detect explosives with low vapor pressures (such as HMTD). The device was able to detect trace amounts of selected explosives/explosive taggants in 5 s.

Organophosphorus chemical warfare agents such as sarin (GB), soman (GD), and cyclosarin (GF) rank among the most toxic substances known, making trace-level detection critical for public and military safety. In this study, we compared the sensitivity of two analytical techniques for determining these nerve agents: gas chromatography with flame-photometric detection (GC-FPD) and gas chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICP-MS). Diluted samples of sarin, soman, and cyclosarin were prepared under controlled laboratory conditions and then analyzed by both methods. Limits of detection, calibration linearity, and selectivity of the two approaches were evaluated. It was shown that GC-ICP-MS enabled detection of sarin, soman, and cyclosarin at ≈0.12–0.14 ng/mL (LOD), whereas GC-FPD achieved LODs of ≈0.36–0.43 ng/mL. The obtained results confirm that GC-ICP-MS exhibits significantly higher sensitivity than GC-FPD in the analysis of the chemical warfare agents under study. This advantage indicates strong application potential of GC-ICP-MS as a technique for ultra-sensitive detection of trace amounts of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in environmental samples and in confirmatory testing for compliance with the CWC, while simultaneously employing GC-FPD for rapid preliminary monitoring.

This study describes the modification of polyamide fabric with the commercial name Cordura to create a material that is more resistant to the permeation of toxic gases and compound vapors while remaining permeable to water vapor and air. The surface of Cordura was modified by applying a very thin film, deposited from a vapor organic phase at room temperature under the influence of γ-radiation. The permeability of the modified fabric to water vapor, organic vapors, organic dyes, and toxic substances (sulfur mustard gas) was determined and compared to the properties of the unmodified fabric.

Metoda wykrywania fosforoorganicznych bojowych środków trujących z zastosowaniem esterazy cholinowej charakteryzuje się bardzo wysoką czułością. Omówiono zasadę wykorzystania metody enzymatycznej w detekcji wysokotoksycznych substancji chemicznych z grupy fosfonianów. Porównano zmianę intensywności barwy w czasie w zależności od stężenia sarinu w próbce gazu za pomocą spektrometru UV-Vis. Dokonano analizy metody pod kątem stopnia aktywności esterazy cholinowej w zależności od stężenia środka trującego.