https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2021.079
Published: Kem. Ind. 71 (7-8) (2022) 485–496
Paper reference number: KUI-79/2021
Paper type: Review
Download paper:  PDF

Technologies Used for Field Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents: Part I – Colorimetry and Ion Mobility Spectroscopy

I. Cetina, D. Tušek and V. Ključarić

Abstract

Detection of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals is very important for security forces. For a long time it has been based on colorimetric chemistry, and only the development of electronics has made the automation and miniaturisation of chemical detection possible. At the end of the 20^th century, automatic chemical detectors, mostly based on ion mobility spectrometry technology (IMS), began to appear on the market. Nowadays, colorimetric detectors are increasingly being used again due to their excellent selectivity and low cost, and new chromogenic reagents are being developed. On the other hand, the development of IMS detectors is focused on the use of an asymmetric field since it allows smaller dimensions and greater sensitivity of the detector. In this paper, besides commercially available chemical detectors based on colorimetry and ion mobility spectroscopy techniques, an overview of scientific research focused on further development of these technologies with the goal of increasing selectivity and sensitivity is given.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Keywords

chemical warfare agents, detection, identification, colorimetry, IMS