Aspects of Explosives Detection

by Maurice Marshall, Jimmie C. Oxley

Overview

Detection and quantification of trace chemicals is a major thrust of analytical chemistry. In recent years much effort has been spent developing detection systems for priority pollutants. Less mature are the detections of substances of interest to law enforcement and security personnel:in particular explosives. This volume will discuss the detection of these, not only setting out the theoretical fundamentals, but also emphasizing the remarkable developments in the last decade. Terrorist events—airplanes blown out of the sky (PanAm 103 over Lockerbie) and attacks on U.S. and European cities (Trade Center in New York and the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, railways in London and Madrid)—emphasize the danger of concealed explosives. However, since most explosives release little vapor, it was not possible to detect them by technology used on most organic substances. After PanAm 103 was downed over Scotland, the U.S. Congress requested automatic explosive detection equipment be placed in airports. This volume outlines the history of explosive detection research, the developments along the way, present day technologies, and what we think the future holds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123745330
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	11/20/2008
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Dr. Oxley earned a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, a Masters from California State U. Northridge, and a BA from U of California, San Diego. She is presently Professor of Chemistry at the University of Rhode Island (URI), where she specializes in the study of energetic materials explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics with a specialty in explosives used by terrorists. In addition to research activities Oxley organizes and teaches specialty classes to professionals working in the field of explosives. She has published well over 100 articles on energetic materials.

Table of Contents

1. The Detection Problem
M. Marshall and J.C. Oxley
2. Explosives - The Threat Materials
M. Marshall and J.C. Oxley
3. Detection of Explosives by Dogs
J.C. Oxley and L.P. Waggoner
4. Colorimetric Detection of Explosives
J. Almog and S. Zitrin
5. Nuclear Technologies
P. J. Griffin
6. X-ray Technologies
R. F. Eilbert
7. CT Technologies
Richard C. Smith and James M. Connelly
8. Analysis and Detection of Explosives b Mass Spectrometry
Jehuda Yinon
9. Advances in Ion Mobility Spectrometry of Explosives
G.A. Eiceman and H. Schmidt
10. Detection of Explosives Using Amplified Fluorescent Polymers
Samuel W. Thomas III and Timothy M. Swager
11. Post-Blast Detection Issues
M. Marshall
12. Constitutional Aspects of Search and Seizure:
Gil Sapir and Mark Giangrande