Smell faster, more accurately

US scientists on Sunday said they have successfully tested a new detection device capable of detecting at the same time various dangerous agents, with very high sensitivity and very high false alarm rates. low.

Experts Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National (LLNL) of the United States Department of Energy has just completed an invention called 'injection system particle - mass spectrometry' (Single-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometry - Spams). The device not only smells of drugs or explosives, but also recognizes dangerous biological, chemical and nuclear agents.

Dr. George Farquar, a member of the research team, said that SPAMS is capable of detecting a very small amount of matter, such as a particle-sized particle, which weighs only a trillionth of a gram, on clothing. or an individual's luggage. "This is very important because when someone comes in contact with an explosive or chemical agent, it's very likely that a few of them will stick to them."

"We believe that SPAMS is the only detection tool that can simultaneously detect a variety of threats and deliver very fast alarms," said Dr. Matthias Frank .

Audrey Martin is adjusting the SPAMS lens. (Photo: LLNL)

Moreover, this device does not need to be 'reset' between the uses. "Typically, the mass spectrometer should be adjusted to be compatible with each substance to be detected. But with SPAMS, users do not have to reconfigure each agent type.

The team tested SPAMS for such agents as spores of a strain of Bacillus anthracis, diethyl phthalate, natural cobalt powder (a substitute for Cobalt- 60 and other radioactive metals), pseudoephedrine (used to make methamphetamine - a synthetic narcotic), and RDX. SPAMS accurately identifies each of these agents in less than a minute.

"What we've done is create a very fast detection tool, with very high sensitivity and very low false alarm rates," said physicist Paul Steele . He emphasized: 'This device is unique now. Other devices are fast and responsive but have a higher false alarm rate. '

This work has just been published in the Analytical Chemistry Journal of the American Chemical Society.