Defence and forensic

Detection of trace level of drugs in dust by TD-GC/MS

Forensic detection of proscribed (banned) substances such as heroin or cocaine requires analysis of real-world samples, such as household dust. Direct thermal desorption of materials like this can provide a simple and sensitive approach to drug analysis, and facilitates rapid screening of a broad spectrum of compounds. In this study we demonstrate the successful detection of trace levels of several drugs of abuse in a sample of household dust.

Continuous monitoring of trace-level toxic chemicals in air

This Application Note discusses Markes’ TT24-7™ instrument for continuous on-line and near-real-time sampling of airborne chemical warfare agents. Examples include the evaluation of performance for trace-level agents such as HD (mustard) and free-VX. The ability to detect airborne CWAs at trace level and in near-real-time is highly advantages. It has obvious application at military installations such as stockpile bunkers or agent demilitarisation/destruction facilities.

Advantages of using tube-based thermal desorption for monitoring chemical warfare agents at ultra-trace levels 

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their respective simulants were analysed using Markes’ tube-based systems. The study included the use of both 89-mm (3.5-inch) standard tubes and 114-mm (4.5-inch) depot area air monitoring systems (DAAMS) tubes, desorbed using standard- or DAAMS configured automated thermal desorbers, respectively, connected to GC-MS or GC-MS-FPD instruments. Two recent TD innovations were evaluated – enhanced internal standard addition and multi-tube trap stacking – to explore what advantages they offered for monitoring CWAs at ultra-trace levels. 

Rapid forensic analysis of fire debris using headspace sampling onto sorbent tubes with TD-GC-MS 

This document describes the analysis of ignitable liquid residues (ILRs) from fire debris, using static or dynamic headspace sampling onto sorbent tubes, in conjunction with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Key points demonstrated are the ease with which samples can be compared and conditions optimised, the benefits of sample re-collection for repeat analysis, and the very low levels of carryover (even for heavy petroleum distillates).