Identification and Testing of Available Sensors for the Detection of Perfluorocarbon, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 197719
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 29 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2001-LT-BX-K005
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This report describes a cost-effective method of detection of Perfluorocarbon (used for tagging and tracing, ransom money) in the field, and discusses the global warming potential of the Perfluorocarbon class of compounds.

Abstract

Perfluorocarbon tracers (PTFs) are ideal candidates for tagging, tracking, and identification of stolen goods, ransom money, and also for their non-medical use in environmental testing, and for their extremely low impact on global warming. The study of this new chemical tagging and tracing method was undertaken between August 1, 2001, and March 30, 2002, at the State University of Stony Book, New York. Its purpose was to provide an affordable, off-the-shelf detector/sensor system of the Perfluorocarbon taggant to the law enforcement community. Perfluorocarbon tracer technology is uniquely able to permeate closed doors and windows, containers, and luggage, yet is impervious to electronic interference and other problems inherent with tagging technologies. This article includes information on the workplan used, overall conclusion, and a summary of the results. It describes PFTs detection with gas chromatograph and passive detection using the Brookhaven National Laboratory Air Infiltration Measurement System (BNL/AIMS) sampling technique. An Executive Summary of remote Optical PFT Tracing is included. Appendices include a technical brief, the grant budget, a glossary of terms, a discussion of the global warming impact of Perfluorocarbon tracer, and two Special Operations Team accounts of its use in two kidnappings in Mexico.