Correlated column micro gas chromatography instrumentation for the vapor detection of contraband drugs in cargo containers

Paul M. Holland; Robert V. Mustacich; James F. Everson; William Foreman; Michael Leone; Ann H. Sanders; Walter J. Naumann

doi:10.1117/12.189158

6 October 1994 Correlated column micro gas chromatography instrumentation for the vapor detection of contraband drugs in cargo containers

Paul M. Holland, Robert V. Mustacich, James F. Everson, William Foreman, Michael Leone, Ann H. Sanders, Walter J. Naumann

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2276, Cargo Inspection Technologies; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.189158
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

We have developed an instrument based on Micro Gas Chromatography ((mu) GC) for rapid, handheld detection of vapor signatures from contraband drugs in cargo containers. For this application, a key requirement is the ability to distinguish the vapor signatures of contraband drugs against the highly variable chemical backgrounds encountered in cargo containers. To achieve this, we split the sample and run it simultaneously on two (mu) GCs with different stationary phases using correlated column chromatography. This effectively expands `detection space' and greatly enhances the chemical selectively. As part of this effort, we have also developed an extensive correlated chromatography database of chemical vapor signatures for both contraband drugs and representative backgrounds obtained by sampling incoming cargo containers under the supervision of U.S. Customs inspectors. Our experience shows that significant vapor buildup occurs in these containers resulting in strong and variable chemical backgrounds. Typical GC signatures observed have 10 - 20 strong components with a variable number of weaker components. The signatures reflect the very large variation in the contents and extent of packing of cargo containers, and show that vapor-based chemical detectors will require a large dynamic range to be effective. Gas chromatography is well suited for this. Furthermore it appears that a correlated (mu) GC instrument can provide rapid, handheld detection which fits into existing operational scenarios for the inspection of cargo containers for contraband.

Citation Download Citation

Paul M. Holland, Robert V. Mustacich, James F. Everson, William Foreman, Michael Leone, Ann H. Sanders, and Walter J. Naumann "Correlated column micro gas chromatography instrumentation for the vapor detection of contraband drugs in cargo containers", Proc. SPIE 2276, Cargo Inspection Technologies, (6 October 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.189158

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