Importance

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Abstract

A system for and a method of increasing the sensitivity of organic vapor detection in ion mobility spectrometer by as much as three (3) orders of magnitude. Vapors are collected from the gas to be analyzed by controlled adsorption and are subsequently thermally released as an enriched concentration into the reactor volume of an ion mobility spectrometer. The herein disclosed system of preconcentrator and ion mobility spectrometer is easier to maintain and is more portable than other instruments of comparable sensitivity and the reliable operation is simpler. In one experiment, the computed enrichment factor of 3,500 for the preconcentrator lowered the limit of detection from 10 ppt for the ion mobility spectrometor alone down to 0.003 ppt for the embodiment of this invention. The sensitivity, compactness, ease of operation and ruggedness make the invention a suitable choice as a sensitive, efficient, and rapid detector of narcotics, toxic and explosive materials. Such detectors find applications at airports, surface transportation terminals, facility inspection points and security stations.

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First Claim