Detecting low levels of pollutants, explosives, and chemical and biological agents used in terrorist attacks can be a very challenging task, requiring precise and timely information
Responding to increased security needs, Thermo Electron has developed a new line of GC/MS applications especially designed for analysing compounds relevant to homeland security initiatives.
Thermo Electron's Finnigan Trace DSQ single quadrupole mass spectrometer and Finnigan PolarisQ ion trap GC/MS system are particularly suited for analyses carried out by forensic laboratories, federal government entities, military operations, and other applicable users.
Forensically, the identification of explosives can aid in identifying source materials, determining the nature of accelerants, and evaluating potential threats.
Since these analyses have been difficult to perform in a timely manner with minimal sample, Thermo has developed tailored applications describing the methods performed for the analysis of explosive residues, as well as nerve gas metabolites.
Thermo's newly developed application, 'Analysis of explosives by chemical ionisation GC/MS', provides methodology for analysing explosive residue using the Finnigan Trace DSQ.
Since rapid analysis of low-level compounds is of utmost importance in security situations, the analyst using the instrument has the ability to run small amounts of samples with less downtime, saving on both lost time and instrument maintenance.
The instrument is equipped with the new Ion Bright source, making it ideal for the quick detection and analysis of low-level analytes found in explosive residue, which has been difficult to accomplish to date.
A further homeland security application, 'Analysis of methylphosphonic acid (mpa), a metabolite of Sarin, by tandem GC mass spectrometry and positive ion chemical ionisation', provides methodology for the analysis of nerve gas metabolites.
These compounds were first used as chemical weapons during World War II and more recently linked to Gulf War events and subsequent terrorist activity. Defensive research into their detection, decontamination, and treatment is ongoing.
The Finnigan Trace DSQ and Finnigan PolarisQ are said to be the most sensitive benchtop GC/MS systems commercially available, and they are equipped with the ability to provide extreme sensitivity and efficiency in forensic analysis.
