Chemical / Biological / Radiological / Nuclear / Explosives (CBRNE)

News and Updates

The Journey to Commercialize Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology

May 17, 2022

In the early 2000’s, Abhishek Motayed found his way to the NIST campus as a contractor, working in what became the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). Within

K9 Chemistry: A Safer Way to Train Detection Dogs

December 2, 2020

Trained dogs are incredible chemical sensors, far better at detecting explosives, narcotics and other substances than even the most advanced technological

Woman uses gas analysis mass spectrometer at NBS for chemical analysis of gas or vapor mixtures

NIST Adds New 'Fingerprints' to Chemical Identification Database

June 17, 2020

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its database of chemical fingerprints, called mass spectra, that are used to identify

Projects and Programs

DARPA Friend or Foe (FoF) -- Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

Ongoing

The development of new platforms for characterization of complex microbial samples are hampered by lack of reproducibility and comparability across different

Documentary Standards: X-ray Security Screening Applications

Ongoing

The primary objective of this project is to assure the technical performance and radiation safety of the nation's x-ray and gamma-ray security screening efforts

Explosives Decomposition Chemistry

Ongoing

High-energy materials are commonly used as military explosives and as advanced propellants. The detailed chemical reactions responsible for detonation

Standards to Support Biological Detection in the Field

Ongoing

Obtaining high confidence field detection, identification, and quantification of microbial samples remains a challenge. Since 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax

Publications

Open port sampling interface mass spectrometry of wipe-based explosives, oxidizers, and narcotics for trace contraband detection

July 19, 2021

Author(s)

Thomas P. Forbes, Jeffrey Lawrence, Changtong Hao, J Greg Gillen

Rapid screening for chemical traces of explosives and narcotics is widely used to support homeland security and law enforcement. These target compounds span a

Inorganic oxidizer detection from propellants, pyrotechnics, and homemade explosive powders using gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis

February 1, 2021

Author(s)

Shannon T. Krauss, Thomas Forbes, Dillon Jobes

Advancement in rapid targeted chemical analysis of homemade and improvised explosive devices is critical for the identification of explosives-based hazards and

Water Migration and Swelling in Engineered Barrier Materials for Radioactive Waste Disposal

January 25, 2021

Author(s)

Joanna McFarlane, Lawrence M Anovitz, Michael C. Cheshire, Victoria H. DiStefano, Hassina Z. Bilheux, Jean-Christophe Bilheux, Luke L. Daemen, Richard E. Hale, Ronald L. Howard, A. J. Ramirez-Cuesta, Louis J. Santodonato, Markus Bleuel, Daniel S. Hussey, David L. Jacobson, Jacob LaManna, Edmund Perfect, Logan Qualls

Deep underground repositories are needed to isolate radioactive waste from the biosphere. Bentonite is an integral component of many multibarrier repository

GRADIENT ELUTION MOVING BOUNDARY ELECTROPHORESIS OF HOMEMADE FUEL-OXIDIZER EXPLOSIVES

September 21, 2020

Author(s)

Thomas Forbes, Shannon T. Krauss, Dillion Jobes

The analysis of complex samples without extensive preparation steps (e.g., filtration or centrifugation) is a persistent challenge for applications ranging from

Tools and Instruments

Cabinet x-ray system

The Smiths Detection 6046si cabinet x-ray system was designed for security screening of bags, parcels and other objects of similar size. The system runs at 160

X-ray Backscatter Systems

X-ray backscatter systems are used for the screening of personnel for hidden weapons and other contraband. Unlike conventional radiographic x-ray systems