Surface-Enhanced Raman Detection of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene Impurity Vapor as a Marker To Locate Landmines

Abstract

Time, cost, and casualties associated with demining efforts underscore the need for improved detection techniques. Reduction in the number of false positives by directly detecting the explosive material, rather than casing material, is desirable. The desired field sensor must, at a minimum, demonstrate reproducibility, the necessary level of sensitivity, portability, instrumental stability, and fast system response times. Ideally, vibrational spectroscopic techniques have the potential to remove false positives, since every chemical has a unique bond structure. Herein, we demonstrate the capabilities of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to detect the chemical vapor signature emanating from buried TNT-based landmines. We present reproducible results obtained from blind tests controlled by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that demonstrate vapor detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene at concentration levels of 5 ppb or less. The results presented used acquisition times of 30 s on a fieldable system and showed that SERS can be a significant improvement over current landmine detection methods.

Self-assembled nanoparticle arrays for multiphase trace analyte detection

“…Various analytical techniques exist that can be used for molecular detection of pollutants 1,2 , explosives [3][4][5] , narcotics 6,7 , and pesticides 8 . Often "real-samples" contain a complex mixture of compounds, which need to be quantified.…”

“…SERS is already an established technique to detect explosives 4,12,13 , narcotics 14,15 and pesticides 16 .…”

Label‐free live cell imaging by Confocal Raman Microscopy identifies CHO host and producer cell lines

“…graphene characterization 6) to quality control 7 and chemical identification (e.g. detection of impurities such as 2,4‐dinitrotoluene vapor to locate landmines 6, 8). In CHO bioprocessing, Raman spectroscopy together with chemometrics 9, 10, 11 was proven useful for in situ monitoring of cell culture broth, in 2 to 5000 L bioprocesses 12, 13, 14.…”

O efeito SERS na análise de traços: o papel das superfícies nanoestruturadas

“…Podem, ainda, ser citadas caracterizações de substâncias em suspensão na atmosfera 14 ou de drogas em sistemas biológicos 15 . A sensibilidade requerida por determinados problemas pode ser exemplificada por um trabalho em que foi proposto um sensor para vapores de explosivos utilizando-se o efeito SERS 16 . Nesse trabalho foram detectados espectros -em 30 s e com alta relação sinalruído -de vapores de 2,4-dinitrotolueno com concentrações menores que 20 ppb.…”