Research Highlights

Testing and Evaluation of Portable Detector Begins

This evaluation addresses technologies for detecting and identifying contamination in buildings as a means of guiding response and decontamination. EPA’s goal is to generate objective performance data so those leading response and decontamination efforts can make informed purchase and application decisions for these technologies.

The first IMS detector being tested is the ChemPro 100, which was submitted by Environics USA of Port Orange, FL. Testing of the ChemPro 100 began in late February 2005 at Battelle’s laboratories in Columbus and West Jefferson, Ohio. Testing started with TICs, including hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, arsine, and chlorine.

The TIC testing (completed in March) used chemical laboratories at the Columbus facilities equipped for safe handling of volatile TICs. The West Jefferson facilities are chemical surety laboratories certified for using CW agents and will be used for subsequent testing with the agents sarin (GB) and sulphur mustard (HD).

Two identical ChemPro 100 units were tested simultaneously during the TIC phase. Only one ChemPro 100 unit will be tested in the CW agent testing, allowing one unit to remain in reserve. The IMS devices operate by drawing in air with an internal pump, ionizing the contaminants in the air, separating the ions by their speed of drift in an electric field, and detecting them.

The performance characteristics being evaluated include the ability to detect and identify target agents and chemicals under both ideal and realistic operating conditions. The instruments are evaluated on response time, response threshold, accuracy, recovery time, temperature and humidity effects, and interference effects. Operational factors such as cold/hot start behavior, battery life, cost, ease of use, and data output capability are also being evaluated.

The second portable detector tested is the S-CAD, submitted by Science Applications International Corporation of San Diego, CA. The S-CAD employs electrochemical and surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, as well as IMS, to detect TICs and CW agents. Testing of the S-CAD with the TIC hydrogen cyanide began in early May.

To reduce the time usually allotted for test results to become available, evaluation reports will be brief (no more than 20 pages) and will focus on the evaluation results.

Contact: Eric Koglin

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