SEATTLE, Wash. – A technology that can quickly detect explosive vapors, deadly chemicals and illicit drugs with unparalleled accuracy has been named the 2020 Innovation of the Year by GeekWire, the Seattle-based technology news company.
The vapor detection technology, known as VaporID, was developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. It and other winners of GeekWire’s annual awards for the Northwest’s top companies and technologies were announced at a virtual ceremony on July 23. PNNL was the only winner from Eastern Washington.
“There were several worthwhile nominees, so this is a great honor,” said PNNL chemist and co-inventor Robert Ewing, who accepted the award on behalf of PNNL. “The award means a great deal to those of us who worked on the technology as it has such potential to improve public safety.”
VaporID accurately detects and identifies the vapors of even very low-volatility explosives in real time, in extremely small amounts, at ambient temperature, and without sample pre-concentration. The technology identifies explosive compounds, such as C-4, PETN, Semtex, nitroglycerin, tetryl and TNT, as well as vapors emanating from toxic chemicals similar in structure to nerve agents. Recently, the capability was proven effective at identifying illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Rather than searching for particle residue using a typical method like surface swipes or using pulses of air to dislodge particles for analysis, the system ‘sniffs’ directly for explosives vapors, much the way bomb-sniffing canines do.
In the not-too-distant future, contact and canine-assist methods could be complemented or replaced by the VaporID technology in mailrooms, at airports and other venues where public safety is imperative.
This is the second major award for VaporID. It received an R&D 100 Award in 2019.
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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on signature capabilities in chemistry, Earth sciences, and data analytics to advance scientific discovery and create solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges in energy resiliency and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit PNNL’s News Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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