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

News and Updates

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

Six people stand in front of a tan building, cutting a blue ribbon

NIST Unveils New Laboratory Building for Improved National Radiation Measurements

September 24, 2019

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday to unveil a

Projects and Programs

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

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

Vapor Sampling in the Field

We develop and deploy portable vapor sampling instruments to collect detailed chemical information in the field, in sampling situations where the laboratory is

Ambient and Atmospheric Pressure Mass Spectrometry

Ambient and atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry platforms provide sample collection, transport, and ionization for vapor, aerosol, and liquid samples

Optimization of Current and Next Generation Trace Contraband Detection Systems

NIST works to identify, research, and document improvements to current and next-generation detection systems. Emphasis is placed on performance characterization

Publications

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

Trace Detection and Chemical Analysis of Homemade Fuel-Oxidizer Mixture Explosives: Emerging Challenges and Perspectives

September 4, 2020

Author(s)

Thomas Forbes, Shannon T. Krauss, John Gillen

The chemical analysis of homemade explosives (HMEs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remains challenging for fieldable analytical instrumentation and

Discriminative potential of ion mobility spectrometry for the detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues relative to confounding environmental interferents

September 27, 2019

Author(s)

Thomas Forbes, Jeffrey Lawrence, Jennifer R. Verkouteren, R. Michael Verkouteren

The opioid crisis and emergence of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic opioids has highlighted the need for sensitive and robust detection for

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