ABSTRACT
The past decade may be characterized by an intense research effort to improve the sensitivity and reliability of ion mobility-based instruments for detection of explosives and to expand the inventory of detectable explosive substances. In addition, improvements in sampling techniques have been proposed, standards for calibration of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) instruments and for method verication have been developed, and novel instrumental techniques based on laser ablation or electrospray ionization have been advanced. This has occurred due to the rising need for rapid, efcient, and reliable detectors of explosives that are used in acts of terrorism worldwide, as stated in many occasions (see Frame 12.1). Some idea about the scale of this trend can be gained from a recent report: “Austin, TX, 15 September, 2011-Sales of Explosives, Weapons, and Contraband (EWC) Detection equipment to the world’s airport authorities, amassed a signicant $834.9 million in 2010, according to a recent study published by IMS Research, a leading provider of market research in the homeland security industry.”
