D300.6 HP-sensor selection study LARS-ERIK NILSSON (PORTENDO), PIERRE STRÖMBECK (PORTENDO) Funding has been received from the European Commission s Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) Dissemination Level: PU, Public Project No. 217925 LOTUS Localisation of Threat Substances in Urban Society
D300.6 HP-sensor selection study Due date of deliverable: December 31, 2009 Actual submission date: December 12, 2009 LOTUS report no: LOTUS-TR-09-011 Reg. no: FOI-2009-486 Author(s): LARS-ERIK NILSSON (PORTENDO), PIERRE STRÖMBECK (PORTENDO) Number of pages: 8 Start date of project: January 1, 2009 Duration: 3 years
Content Content... 1 1 Summary... 2 2 Introduction... 2 3 Background... 2 4 Alternate Sensor Technologies... 2 4.1.1 Chemoluminescence... 3 4.1.2 IR spectroscopy... 3 4.1.3 Fluorescence spectroscopy... 3 5 Sensor evaluation... 4 6 Sensor choice... 4 7 Sensor components... 5 8 Sensor development... 6 9 References... 6
1 Summary The Lotus consortium has decided, on the advice from the end-user group, to develop a sensor optimized for detection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 or HP). IR absorption spectrometry has been chosen as the technology most suited for this task. The projected performance is expected to meet the requirements identified in the early phases of the Lotus project. Portendo has entered into a cooperation agreement with a laser technology provider, Cascade-Technologies, for delivery of key sensor components. Development of the roof-box integrated sensor system start in Q1 2010 for software and hardware and in Q2 2010 for mechanics. 2 Introduction Lotus is a project in the EU 7 th Framework Security Research Program. Lotus (Localization of Threat substances in Urban Society) aims to localize illegal bomb production sites. The project was started on Jan. 1 st 2009. 3 Background A core objective of the Lotus project is to detect substances emitted from illegal production of explosives materials. To enable this functionality and provide redundancy three different sensor technologies were included in the final proposal, one off-the-shelf product, one sensor in an advanced stage of development and one sensor emerging from research activities. During the End-User Workshop, which was held at the start of the project, a key request from the participating police and security officers was the ability to detect one particular substance namely H 2 O 2, a key ingredients in the making of TATP, one of the most common and most dangerous homemade explosives.. The issue was raised during the Lotus Steering Committee, held in January 2009, and a decision was taken to delegate to the Project Management Group the opportunity to exhange the least mature sensor technology (in WE330) for a sensor technology specifically suited to detect H 2 O 2. 4 Alternate Sensor Technologies Portendo (responsible for WE330) has in collaboration with FOI identified three technologies (apart from the initial SERS technology) which may be suitable for H 2 O 2 detection. These are: 1. Chemoluminescence 2. IR spectroscopy 3. Fluorescence spectroscopy 2(7)
4.1.1 Chemoluminescence In chemoluminescence light produced by a chemical reaction is detected. This method is suitable for gas analysis of small amounts of impurities in air. The detection limit is down to 1 ppb. Components needed for designing a detector are a transparent container, a suitable catalyst chemical and a sensitive photodetector. Förslag: In chemolumiscence the air is bubbled through a water solution of a specific reagent. This reagent will be oxidized by the H 2 O 2 present in the air, leaving it in an energetic state. The energy is transferred to a second molecule in the solution. This molecule will subsequently release its energy as a quantum of easily detected blue or green light. Components needed for designing a detector are an embodiment for collecting the air sample, a reflective container, readily available reagents and a sensitive photodetector. Detection limits of 1about 1 ppbv have been reported. 4.1.2 IR spectroscopy In infrared (IR) spectroscopy the intensity of a beam of light is measured before and after interaction with a sample. Absorption spectroscopy is based on the absorption of photons by one or more substances present in a sample. H 2 O 2 has several absorption wavelengths in the infrared region from 1 to 10 micrometer which, with a suitable lightsource, can be used for detection. The detection limit is down to 0.1 ppbv. Components needed for designing a detector are an air sampling device, a suitable narrow-band light source, a multi-pass cell and an infrared photodetector. 4.1.3 Fluorescence spectroscopy In fluorescence detection of H 2 O 2 the air is passed through a water solution that essentially will trap 100% of the peroxide. The trapped peroxide can react with a fluorescent compound present in the solution transforming it to a non-fluorescent product. This causes a decrease (quenching) of the solution s fluorescent properties in proportion to the amount of peroxide. Alternatively an enzymatic reaction will cause the peroxide to react with a non-fluorescent precursor forming a new fluorescent product. In both cases the fluorescent properties are determined by illuminating the solution with blue or UV light and measuring the resulting fluorescence at higher wavelengths. Detection limits in the range of 0.05 ppbv have been reported. Components necessary are containers and embodiments for trapping and reactions of the peroxide including a transparent container, a short wavelength light source, a wavelength filter and a detector system. 3(7)
5 Sensor evaluation The sensor technologies have been evaluated according to performance and suitability: Parameter Chemolum. IR spectroscopy Fluor. Spectr. Sensitivity Good Good Good Selectivity Fair Good Fair Measurement speed Fair High Fair Maintenance Frequent Low Frequent Mechanical Fair Good Fair integration Control electronics Easy Easy Easy and software Data processing Easy Easy Easy software Suitability for mobile Poor Good Poor applications Availability of Fair Good Fair suitable components Cost Low High Medium Reliability Fair High Fair Environmental sturdiness Low Fair Good Low 6 Sensor choice Given the results of the evaluation, Portendo has chosen IR spectroscopy for the new optimized hydrogen peroxide sensor. A major limitation of the other technologies is the need for liquids and associated pumps, tanks, frequent cleaning etc, making them less suitable for reliable mobile applications. The main limitation of the chosen technology is cost. However, since Lotus is a capability project and the cost is within the project budget, this limitation is a minor obstacle. 4(7)
7 Sensor components The major types of components for IR spectroscopy sensor are shown below: The central component is a multi-pass cell through which the ambient air is passed. Light from a tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) is reflected hundreds of times in the multi-pass cell thereby providing a very long path for light absorption. Eventually the light is released from the cell into the MCT (mercury-cadmiumtelluride) detector. In operation the wavelength of the QCL is rapidly tuned across the absorption peak of hydrogen peroxide. This provides a robust, yet sensitive, way of detecting and identifying very low amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the ambient air. A key component in the described solution is a quickly tunable QCL. This technology is very new, but fortunately a couple of European companies are at the forefront of this development. Portendo has chosen a QCL from Cascade-Technologies (C-T) in Scotland because it combines very good performance coupled with a robust implementation. C-T has also verified the system performance for hydrogen peroxide detection. Currently the detection limit is tens of ppb. The projected system performance can be summarized as follows: Detection limit for H 2 O 2 «100ppb Minimized interference from vehicle emission gases Measurement period is a few seconds Operating temperature range +5C to +35C Power requirements within the Lotus specification Able to be mechanically integrated in a roof box 5(7)
8 Sensor development In order to provide a controlled sensor development Portendo has entered into a cooperation agreement with Cascade-Technologies. The purchase order for the hydrogen peroxide-specific QCL has been placed and the manufacturing is ongoing. Delivery of the critical sensor components is expected beginning of Q2 2010. The mechanical design will start in Q2 while development of software and hardware starts in Q1. 9 References No references. 6(7)
LOTUS Report Documentation Page Issuing organisation Portendo AB Project name LOTUS: Localisation of Threat Substances in Urban Society Author(s) Lars-Erik Nilsson Pierre Strömbeck Document title HP-sensor selection study Report No. LOTUS-TR-09-011 Date of issue 2009-12-21 Deliverable No. Deliverable D300.6 Project designation LOTUS Sponsoring organisations EU FP7, Project number 217925 Project manager Sara Wallin Scientifically and technically responsible Henric Östmark Abstract Keywords Hydrogen peroxide detection, IR spectroscopy, Further bibliographic information ISBN/ISSN No. (if applicable) Language English DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Request for copies or further distribution referred to Project Coordinator, FOI, att. Dr. Sara Wallin, SE-147 25 Tumba, Sweden, tel +46 8 5550 4097, e-mail lotus@foi.se SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: The European Union a. REPORT PU b. ABSTRACT PU c. THIS PAGE PU LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT NUMBER OF PAGES NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON Rolf Andersson, FOI none 7 TELEPHONE NUMBER +46 70 927 7456 7(7)
LOTUS has received funding from the European Community s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement No 217925. The overall objective of the LOTUS project is to develop a new anti-terrorism tool for law enforcement agencies, in the form of an integrated surveillance system for continuous chemical background monitoring with fixed site and/or mobile detectors to identify chemical hotspots such as bomb or drug factories. The LOTUS project aims to create a system by which illicit production of explosives and drugs can be detected during the production stage rather than preventing terrorist at-tacks while they are already in motion, which is extremely difficult. The LOTUS concept is aimed at detecting chemical signatures over a wide urban area. The detectors may be placed at fixed positions although most detectors should be mo-bile. These distributed detectors continuously sample air while its carrier performs its daily work. When a suspicious substance is detected in elevated amounts, information about the type, location, amount and time is registered and sent to a data collection and evaluation centre for analysis. Several indications in the same area will trigger an alert, enabling law enforcement agencies to further investigate and respond. LOTUS is a collaboration between: FOI AIT Bruhn Newtech Bruker Portendo Ramem SAAB Secrab TNO Universitat de Barcelona Coordinator FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency Department of Energetic Materials Grindsjön Research Centre SE 147 25 Tumba SWEDEN Website www.lotusfp7.eu