Aspects of Explosives Detection

Maurice Marshall (Edited by), Jimmie C. Oxley (Edited by)

9780123745330, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 17 October 2008

302 pages
24 x 16.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.71 kg

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.

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

Subject Areas: Explosives technology & pyrotechnics [TTP], Analytical chemistry [PNF], Forensic science [JKVF1]