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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Laser Desorption of Explosives from the Surface of Different Real-World Materials Studied Using C2Cl6-Dopant-Assisted
Emanuel Maťaš1, Matej Petrík2, Martin Sabo2,3
1Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Abstract:
A highly efficient and sensitive ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) system with laser desorption sampling was applied for rapid explosive detection using different surface materials. This portable IMS detector, powered by a battery, offers mobility and is suitable for use in the field or combat zones. The laser desorption (LD) sampling of common explosives (Trinitrotoluene-TNT; Dinitrotoluenes-DNTs; Hexogene-RDX; pentaerythritol tetranitrate-PETN; plastic explosives-Compound 4 (C-4) and Semtex) on a wide range of common surface materials, such as metal, ceramic, plastic, glass, drywall, paper, wood, and textiles, was studied. Successful detection was achieved on nearly all surfaces except flammable materials (paper, wood, and textiles). The limit of detection (LOD) was determined for each explosive and specific surface, demonstrating an impressive LOD of 7 ng/mm2 for TNT. RDX, C-4, PETN, and Semtex achieved LOD values of 15 ng/mm2, while DNTs showed an LOD of approximately 50 ng/mm2.
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