Labs’ licensee unveils explosives-sniffing security portal in Washington, D.C.

Explosives-detection technology originally developed at Sandia is part of a new security portal unveiled last week in Washington, D.C.

Barringer Instruments (Warren, N.J.) showed off its new walk-through explosives-detection portal, the SENTINEL II, to members of the news media and potential customers May 9.

The portal noninvasively screens about seven people per minute for explosives and a variety of other chemical residues and can be used at airports, office buildings, sports arenas, and other high-traffic areas, according to Barringer.

Sandia developed and licensed to Barringer the sample preconcentrator used in the SENTINEL II. The technology traps particles and vapors from a large volume of air, then directs the concentrated chemical sample to Barringer’s IONSCAN® detector for analysis. The preconcentrator makes possible the detection of very low concentrations of chemical compounds of interest, says project leader Kevin Linker (5848).

The company says the device can detect narcotics and some chemical warfare agents as well.

"The recent shoe bomber incident is just one example of the necessity to screen people," says Barringer President Ken Wood. "However, the traveling public expects screening to be quick and nonintrusive. The SENTINEL II solves all of these issues."

Bob Eagan, VP for Energy, Information, and Infrastructure Surety Div. 6000, represented Sandia at the news media demonstration.

"All of us at Sandia are proud to be a part of this effort, and to see what began at Sandia . . . evolve into a public safety product that will give us all peace of mind when we travel," he said.

A Barringer spokesperson says the com-pany hopes for FAA approval to use the device as an airport screening tool within the next few months.