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 Safety and Maintenance – Kyle

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

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

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

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

Field Test Results

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

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

Why the Ahura First 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

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

Identification Limitations 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

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

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”

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