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Ahura First Defender: Acquisition and Application in the Academic Environment

Ahura First Defender: Acquisition and Application in the Academic Environment. 2013 College and University Hazardous Waste Conference Kyle Dagestad Sean Whalen Iowa State University. Introduction. The Money - Sean The Selection - Sean The Equipment - Kyle The Goods and The Bads - Kyle

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Ahura First Defender: Acquisition and Application in the Academic Environment

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  1. Ahura First Defender:Acquisition and Applicationin the Academic Environment 2013 College and University Hazardous Waste Conference Kyle Dagestad Sean Whalen Iowa State University

  2. Introduction • The Money - Sean • The Selection - Sean • The Equipment - Kyle • The Goods and The Bads- Kyle • Safety and Maintenance – Kyle

  3. The Money • Homeland Security Buffer Zone Program • Grant through ISU-Police • FTIR and RAMAN for unknowns • $82,500 • Equipment only • Purchased the Ahura First Defender ($35,000) and Tru Defender ($47,500) • EH&S owns equipment • Tru Defender on loan to Ames Fire HAZMAT

  4. The Selection • Two primary suppliers • Ahura Scientific • Smith’s Detection • Disclaimer • Representative Presentations • Field Tests • Matrix

  5. Field Tests • Two Unknown “Spills” • Citric Acid • Soda Ash • Lab Unknowns • Corrosives • Solvents • Metals • Mixtures

  6. Field Test Ahura Smith’s Provides options Results 50% spill 47% unknowns False Positives Ketamine as TNT Trimethylamine HCl as molybdenum oxide or propanol • Either Yes or No • Results • 50% spill • 73% unknowns • High fluorescence is biggest problem

  7. Field Test Results

  8. Matrix • Pointed out best unit • Ahura scored highest • Ahura more expensive • Had to write justification

  9. The Equipment How does it work? • Raman Spectroscopy: Molecular “fingerprint” of the molecule • Class 3B laser excites the molecular bonds and scatters measurable light to identify unknowns • ISU Ahura library- 10,152

  10. Why the AhuraFirst Defender? • Currently used by law enforcement, firefighters, and the military • Very durable (4 Feet & 1 Meter) • No calibration needed-confidence check • User friendly • Ahura Customer Support- 24/7- 365

  11. Identification Capabilities • Drugs (illegal & prescription) • White powders • Inorganic compounds- (sulfuric acid, nitric) • Inorganic oxides- (rust, titanium dioxide) • Ionic compounds-(sulfates, phosphates) • Substances in water • Identifies through container

  12. IdentificationLimitations • No covalent bonds • Dark colored materials • Highly fluorescent materials- (dyes, ketchup) • The sun can disrupt scan • Most pure metals and elemental substances • Biologicals- confused by mix of proteins, and fats • Radiation, gasses, and vapors • Highly diluted substances

  13. Safety • Follow your organization’s Laser Safety Protocols -Eyewear • Maintain 14” distance • Laser activated- don’t look into lens • NOT intrinsically safe

  14. Maintenance Cleaning • Water, alcohol, household bleach • Keep lens & nose cone clean Updating • Chemical library updates • “LibBuild Mode” • Good spectrum, but no match? Export- “Ahura Reachback”

  15. Demonstration Performance Point and shoot through a bottle? No problem! Why you shouldn’t scan dark colored materials video.

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