Dopant Permeation Tubes

These dopant permeation tubes can be used to detect trace concentrations of narcotics, explosives, chemical warfare agents (CWAs), and industrial airborne molecular contaminants (AMCs). The detection systems are based on ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS) and are suitable for such applications as plant security and atmospheric monitoring of manufacturing operations. The basic dopant tube is a small plastic cylinder with the pure dopant compound sealed inside. A small stream of the dopant vapor is dispensed slowly and continuously into the detection system’s sample stream, where it reacts to enhance detection of the target compound. Several configurations and kits are available for specific applications: the narcotics detection kit contains three tubes that emit ammonia vapor, supplied as a set and shipped in a metal cylinder; the explosives detection kit contains a single tube that emits dichloromethane supplied in a plastic shipping tube. Additional common dopants include acetone and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP). Other materials are available for specialty applications.