Automated Trace-Explosives Detection for Passenger and Baggage Screening

Abstract

Based on a high-throughput trace-explosives detector, two security equipment were developed to check passengers and baggage before boarding an aircraft. The trace-explosives detector consists of an automated particles sampler and a compact mass spectrometer. In the automated particles sampler, particles adhering to a surface of the detection targets are removed by air jets. A cyclone preconcentrator is then used to collect the particles removed from the detection targets. The collected particles are vaporized by a vaporizer, and the vaporized molecules are analyzed by the mass spectrometer. For the passenger screening, the trace-explosives detector was installed into a boarding gate. When a passenger passes an electronic ticket ( $e$ -ticket) or IC card over the $e$ -ticket reader of the boarding gate, compressed air jets are emitted from a nozzle toward the $e$ -ticket. The throughput of the passenger screening is $\sim 1200$ persons/hour. For the baggage screening, on the other hand, the trace-explosives detector was combined with a conventional X-ray baggage screener. When a bag is put on the conveyor belt of the automated particle sampler, compressed air jets are emitted from nozzles. The trace analysis is finished, while an X-ray image of the bag is being obtained by the X-ray baggage screener. In the both security equipment, the tested explosives’ particulate simulants of 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene, 1, 3, 5-trinitro-1, 3, 5-triazacyclohexane, and triacetone triperoxide adhered to the detection targets are successfully detected. Accordingly, the newly developed security equipment will be useful tools for improving airport security in the near future.