JP2005207884A - Dangerous article detecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively put a detection system for hazardous articles to practical use. <P>SOLUTION: When a wiper 22 used for wiping off the surface of a bag 26 is inserted into a sample insertion port 20 by an inspector 24, the sample bonded to the wiper 22 is gasified, the air introduced from the sample insertion port 20 is gasified at other times, the gasified sample gas is ionized, and the mass of the ionized sample gas is analyzed to decide whether or not a dangerous article is contained in the sample gas from an analyzed result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dangerous goods detection system, for example, suitable for detecting whether dangerous goods such as explosives including explosives, flammable substances, poisonous gases, narcotics, etc. are present in baggage, cargo, suspicious objects, etc. Related to a dangerous goods detection system.

  In nuclear power plants, airports, public facilities, etc., it is necessary to install a dangerous goods detection system to detect dangerous goods in order to prevent the introduction of dangerous goods into radiation protection areas, buildings, and airplanes. ing. As this kind of dangerous object detection system, a baggage inspection apparatus using an X-ray inspection apparatus, a metal detector, or the like is widely used mainly in airports. In the X-ray inspection apparatus, a bulk detection method is adopted in which a target index substance is recognized as a mass, and the presence or absence of a dangerous substance is determined based on information such as a recognized shape. In addition, in the baggage inspection device, a trace detection method based on gas analysis is adopted in addition to the bulk detection method. According to this trace detection method, a substance can be specified from chemical analysis information. For example, there is a feature that it is possible to detect a very small amount of components adhering to the soot. For this reason, a device for detecting a dangerous object with higher accuracy by combining the bulk detection method and the trace detection method is desired in the midst of the demand for security enhancement in society.

  Under such circumstances, mass spectrometry is basically excellent in detection speed, sensitivity, and selectivity. Therefore, a detection technique based on mass spectrometry has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this detection technique, a sample gas is sucked by a suction probe, guided to an ion source and ionized, and the ionized sample gas is converged through an electrostatic lens or the like and guided to a detector. A mass spectrum is measured, and a specific dangerous substance is identified in a data processing unit such as a computer based on the measurement result, or a plurality of m / z values (mass number of ions / valence of ions) are identified. Thus, a mass spectrum is created, the presence or absence of a dangerous substance is determined based on the created mass spectrum, and the type is identified. When a dangerous substance is detected, an alarm or the like is output.

  However, when there is a chemical substance that generates ions having the same m / z value as the dangerous substance in the sample gas, there is a possibility that an alarm or the like is output even though the dangerous substance does not exist. This is due to the low selectivity of the mass spectrometer that analyzes ions, and it happens by chance that ions derived from dangerous materials and pseudomaterials having the same m / z value cannot be distinguished. It is.

  As a method for improving the selectivity of mass spectrometry, a tandem mass spectrometry method has been proposed in which mass spectrometry is performed in two stages using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer or a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. . In other words, in the first stage of mass spectrometry, the m / z value of ions generated by the ion source is measured, and then ions having a specific m / z value are selected from ions having various m / z values. Then, the selected ions (precursor ions) are dissociated by collision with a neutral gas or the like to generate decomposition product ions (fragment ions). In the second-stage mass analysis, when the precursor ion is dissociated, which part of the molecule is cut depends on the strength of the chemical bond for each part. Therefore, when analyzing the fragment ion, a mass spectrum containing information on the molecular structure of the precursor ion is obtained in an abundant amount. Therefore, even if the m / z value of the ion generated in the ion source is the same, the mass of the fragment ion By examining the spectrum, it can be determined whether or not the sample material to be detected is included.

  On the other hand, tandem mass spectrometry requires a longer inspection time than ordinary mass spectrometry. Therefore, in order to shorten the inspection time of tandem mass spectrometry, by performing the second stage mass analysis only when the precursor ion derived from the dangerous substance is detected in the first stage mass analysis, It has been proposed to shorten the inspection time (see Patent Document 2).

  When carrying out baggage inspection, the inspector wipes the surface of the suitcase, bag, bag, etc. with a wiper, holds the wiper with the wiper holder, and then inserts it into the sample insertion port of the inspection device. The attached sample is gasified, the gasified sample gas is ionized, the mass of the ionized sample gas is analyzed with a mass spectrometer, and the analysis result is input to a computer. A wiping inspection method for determining whether or not it is included is performed.

JP-A-7-134970 (pages 4 to 5, FIG. 1) WO 02 / 25265A1 (pages 5 to 7, FIG. 1)

  When performing baggage inspections at airports, etc., the worker wipes the surface of the bag with a wiper, holds the wiper with the wiper holder, and then the operator inserts the wiper into the sample insertion port of the inspection device. It is possible to reliably determine whether or not dangerous goods are stored inside the bag or the like. However, in the method in which an operator wipes off wrinkles and the like using a wiper, the system is used effectively because a process for detecting dangerous goods is performed only when the wiper is inserted into the sample insertion port. Is not enough.

  An object of the present invention is to effectively use the system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention introduces gas in the air in the detection target region as a sample, gasifies, introduces and ionizes the gasified sample gas, and analyzes the mass of the ionized sample gas. From this analysis result, it is determined whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance. That is, when the wiper is not inserted into the sample insertion portion, air is continuously sucked from the sample insertion portion, and dangerous substances related to the sucked air are continuously detected. When the wiper is inserted into the sample insertion portion, the wiper is wiped off. Dangerous goods are detected by inspection.

  According to the present invention, since dangerous goods can be continuously detected, the system can be effectively used.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a dangerous goods detection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the dangerous substance detection system 10 is installed in an area where the air in the detection target area can be introduced as a sample, with the area where the belt conveyor 12 is installed as a detection target area. It comprises a detection device main body 14, a display device 16, an alarm device 18, and the like. A sample insertion port 20 as a sample insertion portion is formed in the detection device main body 14, and the sample insertion port 20 is formed so that a wiper 22 held by a wiper holder (not shown) can be inserted. In the detection device main body 14, when the wiper 22 is inserted from the sample insertion port 20, the sample attached to the wiper 22 is gasified. In other cases, air in the detection target region is discharged from the sample insertion port 20. A sample introduction device is installed as sample introduction means for introducing and gasifying as a sample.

  This sample introducer is adjacent to, for example, a pipe (not shown) connecting the sample insertion port 20 and an ion source (not shown), a suction pump (not shown) provided in the ion source, and the sample insertion port 20. And a heater (not shown) that heats the air introduced from the sample insertion port 20 or the wiper 22. That is, the air or the wiper 22 introduced into the sample insertion port 20 is heated by a heater, the air is gasified as the sample gas, and the sample attached to the wiper 22 is gasified as the sample gas, and the gasified sample Gas is introduced into the ion source by suction of a suction pump. The ion source is configured as an ionization means for ionizing a sample gas introduced through a pipe at atmospheric pressure or under a pressure equivalent thereto, and the sample gas ionized by this ion source has a mass as a mass analysis means. It is designed to be supplied to the analyzer. The mass spectrometer (mass analyzing means) analyzes the mass of the ionized sample gas and outputs the analysis result to a computer. As a determination means, the computer determines whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance from the analysis result of the mass spectrometer, and displays the determination result on the screen of the display 16. Here, the dangerous substance is a general term for explosives including explosives, flammable substances, poisonous gases (toxic gases), drugs, and the like. When a dangerous substance is contained in the sample gas, an alarm is generated from the alarm device 18 in accordance with a command from the computer.

  In the present embodiment, any one of a wiping inspection mode in which the inspector 24 performs wiping inspection of bags, luggage, etc., and a continuous inspection mode in which air in the detection target area is continuously sucked and inspected. The mode is selected. This mode selection or switching can be easily performed by the inspector 24 operating the screen of the display 16. This mode selection or switching can be set even from a remote place such as a central monitoring room. Further, when changing the mode setting, an outsider cannot easily change the setting value by inputting a password for transition to a screen for changing the setting.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the mode is selected or switched (step S1), and when the wiping inspection mode by the inspector 24 is selected (step S2), the wiper 22 that wipes the surface of the bag 26 or the like transported on the belt conveyor 12 is selected. Is determined whether or not is inserted into the sample insertion port 20 (step S3). When the wiper 22 is inserted into the sample insertion port 20, the wiper 22 is heated by the heater, the sample attached to the wiper 22 is gasified, and the gasified sample gas is introduced into the ion source. The sample gas introduced into the ion source is ionized, the mass of the ionized sample gas is analyzed by a mass spectrometer, and the analysis result is output to a computer. Then, in the computer, the analysis result of the mass spectrometer is collated with the index molecular weight of the dangerous substance or drug, and it is determined whether or not the molecular weight of the sample gas matches the index molecular weight. That is, it is determined whether or not there is a suspicious object such as a dangerous substance or drug in the bag 26 (step S4). If the molecular weight of the sample gas does not match the index molecular weight, and it is determined that a substance that is assumed to be a dangerous substance is not attached to the wiper 22, it is assumed that there is no suspicious object such as a dangerous substance or a drug in the bag 26. , A display for passing the bag 26 is displayed on the screen of the display 16 (step S5).

  On the other hand, when the molecular weight of the sample gas matches the index molecular weight and it is determined that a substance that is assumed to be a dangerous substance is attached to the wiper 22, there is a suspicious suspicious object such as a dangerous substance or a drug in the bag 26. As a result, a display indicating that the baggage 26 or the like should be inspected in detail is displayed on the screen of the display 16 (step S6), and the routine in the wiping inspection mode is terminated.

  Next, when the continuous inspection mode by continuous suction is selected (step S7), the process shifts to the continuous inspection mode by continuous suction. At this time, whether or not the wiper 22 is forcibly inserted into the sample insertion port 20 is checked. Is determined (step S8). When the wiper 22 is inserted into the sample insertion port 20, the same processes as in steps S4, S5, and S6 are performed in steps S9, S10, and S11.

  On the other hand, when the wiper 22 is not inserted into the sample insertion port 20, it is determined that the continuous inspection mode is based on continuous suction (step S12), and the air continuously sucked from the sample insertion port 20 is gasified to form a gas. The ionized sample gas is ionized, the mass of the ionized sample gas is analyzed, and it is determined from this analysis result whether or not a gas containing a dangerous substance or a drug is sucked into the sample gas (step S13). If it is determined that the sample gas sucked at this time does not contain a substance that is assumed to be a dangerous substance, the inspection by continuous suction is continued (step S14). On the other hand, when it is determined that the introduced sample gas contains a substance that is assumed to be a dangerous substance, the alarm 18 is activated to issue an alarm (step S15).

  As described above, in the continuous inspection mode by continuous suction, when the wiper 22 is not inserted into the sample insertion port 20, the inspection by continuous suction is continuously performed, and the system can be used effectively.

  In this embodiment, it is also possible to perform a wiping inspection even in the state of the continuous inspection mode by continuous suction. Also, in the continuous inspection mode with continuous suction, switch to the continuous inspection mode with continuous suction even during the time period when there is no inspector 24, and suck in the surrounding gas continuously to know in advance the influence of the strange odor on the human body. be able to.

  Gases that affect the human body are, for example, generated organic compounds (VOC), such as harmful compounds such as headache and dizziness due to inhalation, liver damage, and carcinogenicity, and carbon monoxide (headache, tinnitus) , Nausea, etc., which can be life-threatening if the concentration is high), trichlorethylene (which causes damage to the liver and kidneys), etc. The index gas database is linked to the index molecular weight and registered in the computer in advance. Thus, it can be easily determined whether or not the molecular weight of the sample gas matches the index molecular weight. That is, it is possible to register several types of index substances as a database of harmful gases.

  Further, since the mass spectrometer is highly sensitive, it can be detected even if the gas is diluted in a wide range and the concentration is lowered.

  In addition, the database relating to dangerous goods can be easily switched depending on the environment in which the system is installed and the purpose of inspection. For example, for nitro compounds such as explosives, the ionization efficiency is high in the negative ionization mode and is easy to detect. Detection in the positive ionization mode is suitable for the detection of amines such as forbidden drugs such as narcotics and stimulants. Thus, the mode can be easily switched depending on the inspection object.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, an X-ray inspection device 28 is disposed on the upper side of the belt conveyor 12, and the bag 26 and the like are passed through the X-ray inspection device 28, and the X-ray inspection device 28 performs bulk detection on the bag 26 and the like. After the gas sample introduction pipe 30 is arranged in the X-ray inspection apparatus 28, the air in the X-ray inspection apparatus 28 is introduced into the detector main body 14 through the gas sample introduction pipe 30, and the introduced sample is gasified. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1. On the X-ray inspection apparatus 28, there are an inlet side sensor 32 that detects the loading of the bag 26 and the like, and an outlet side sensor 34 that detects the discharge of the bag 26 and the like from the X-ray inspection apparatus 28. The outputs of the sensors 32 and 34 are respectively input to the computer. Based on the signals from the sensors 32 and 34, the computer determines whether or not the eyelid 26 as the subject has been carried into the X-ray inspection apparatus 28, and the eyelid 26 is discharged from the X-ray inspection apparatus 28. It is determined whether or not various processes are performed according to the determination result.

  In the present embodiment, by introducing the air in the X-ray inspection apparatus 28 from the gas sample introduction pipe 30, the inspection in the continuous inspection mode can be performed, and the wiper 22 accompanying the wiping inspection of the inspector 24 is provided. By inserting the sample into the sample insertion port 20, an inspection in the wiping inspection mode can be performed.

  Also in this embodiment, since the dangerous object can be detected by the continuous inspection mode by the continuous suction in a mode other than the wiping inspection mode accompanying the wiping inspection of the inspector 24, the system can be effectively used.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, when the analysis result of the mass spectrometer is displayed on the screen of the display 16, the signal level of the mass spectrum of the indicator substance to be detected is displayed on the screen of the display 16. Thus, it can be easily confirmed whether the sample contains a substance such as a dangerous substance. In addition, since it can be easily confirmed on the screen of the signal level of the mass spectrum of the indicator substance to be detected, the concentration of the indicator substance can be easily determined from the signal level of the mass spectrum, and harmful substances that affect the human body It can be immediately determined whether or not is contained in the sample gas. Furthermore, the past history can also be confirmed instantaneously by displaying the past history.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, a detection algorithm as shown in FIG. 4 can be adopted when detecting whether or not an indicator substance corresponding to a dangerous substance is contained in the sample gas. In other words, when mass analysis is performed on the sample gas and it is determined whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance, it is considered that the sample gas has a substance with the same molecular weight as that of the indicator substance by chance. Then, by determining whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance by multistage mass spectrometry, the presence or absence of the dangerous substance can be reliably determined.

It is a block block diagram of the dangerous goods detection system which shows 1st Example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the effect | action of the system shown in FIG. It is a block block diagram of the system which shows 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Dangerous Goods Detection System 14 Detector Main Body 16 Display 18 Alarm 20 Sample Insertion Port 22 Wiper 24 Inspector 26 鞄

Claims (4)

Sample introduction means for introducing and gasifying the air in the detection target region as a sample, ionization means for introducing and ionizing the sample gas gasified by the sample introduction means, and sample gas ionized by the ionization means A dangerous substance detection system comprising: mass analysis means for analyzing the mass of the sample gas; and determination means for determining whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance from the analysis result of the mass analysis means. Sample introduction means for introducing and gasifying the air in the detection target region as a sample, ionization means for introducing and ionizing the sample gas gasified by the sample introduction means, and sample gas ionized by the ionization means Mass analyzing means for analyzing the mass of the sample, and comparing the analysis result of the mass analyzing means with the index molecular weight of the dangerous substance or offensive odor gas, and whether or not the molecular weight of the sample gas matches any of the index molecular weights A dangerous goods detection system comprising a determination means for determining. Sample introduction that gasifies the sample adhering to the wiper when the wiper is inserted into the sample insertion portion, and gasifies by introducing air in the detection target region from the sample insertion portion as a sample otherwise Means, ionization means for introducing and ionizing the sample gas gasified by the sample introduction means, mass analysis means for analyzing the mass of the sample gas ionized by the ionization means, and analysis results of the mass analysis means A dangerous substance detection system comprising: determination means for determining whether or not the sample gas contains a dangerous substance. 2. The dangerous substance detection system according to claim 1, further comprising alarm means for generating an alarm when a positive determination result is output from the determination means.

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