SIFT-MS in ‘Border’ Applications  Container Air Analysis – the ‘Residual Fumigants’ issue  Fumigant-testing technologies  Syft’s ‘mature’ CAA application  Search for complementary applications – ‘Swab Desorption’ Narcotics Explosives detection CWA and precursor detection  SIFT-MS Technology

Container Air Analysis

 All container fumigants are harmful to humans  Containers can arrive at destination with dangerous levels – documentation is often unreliable  Residual fumigants create a hazard for workers entering the containers Fumigants: the danger Methyl bromide Chloropicrin Hydrogen cyanide Ethylene oxide Phosphine Sulfuryl fluoride Ethylene dibromide

 Study conducted at Port of Rotterdam inspected 300 unmarked containers 29% exceeded the Dutch safety levels Methyl bromide (MeBr) was especially high – in two cases concentrations were 5 times higher than the safety level  Entering a container is risky! The ‘Residual Fumigants’ issue: Netherlands RIVM study

 Syft has tested thousands of containers: 50% have measurable levels of fumigants 30% have levels above the TRGS 512 safety limits 10-20% have levels above international MAC levels Syft’s experience

Analytical Tools for Fumigant Analysis

Colorimetric tubes  Crystals in tube react to a particular chemical(s)  Each fumigant requires a different tube: one Simultan kit is $100 for ONE TEST

Limitations of colorimetric tubes  Colour change result is subjective, leading to poor measurement accuracy  Cross-sensitivities produce false positive and false negative readings  High cost consumable items  Environmental concerns with disposal  Complicated and fiddly to operate

Electronic devices  Various technologies are available: IMS + MOS systems Photoionisation detectors(PIDs) Infrared sensors  Much more cost effective than colorimetric tubes  Require minimal training  However these devices are not very “specific” so can cause a significant number of false alarms

Market pull There is a growing demand for a more accurate system delivering the following benefits:  Produce very few false positives and negatives,  Be reliable and consistent,  Be able to analyse ALL the dangerous compounds that are observed in containers, in one measurement, AND  Add new compounds as required

 Robust design  Simple to operate (touch screen)  Very fast (2 minutes per sample)  Very low cost per sample  Repeatable analytical-grade measurements  Uses no solvents or harmful substances The Syft solution The Voice200 ® instrument

Operated with minimal training and no technical experience: 1.Firstly take an air sample from container 2.Connect the sample bag to the analysis device 3.Begin analysis by pressing ‘start’ button 4.Analysis time for a sample is 1 – 2 minutes 5.Results are easy to interpret. The Syft Solution

Simple software  A common problem with analytical devices is that the user requires specialist skills to operate them  WE USE TOUCH SCREEN SIMPLICITY

 Compound concentrations  Extendable list of compounds  Accurate and clear results  Safety limits can be user-defined Unambiguous results  Integrates with existing IT systems via LAN, barcode reader, etc.

 Syft fumigant testing now in use at eight Australian ports  Previously used colorimetric tubes – high OPEX costs, low user confidence  Selected Syft after three years’ evaluation of technologies Australian Customs Service

 CBSA has six Syft instruments at port sites  Use a “mixed” method to test for fumigants and a few TICs  CBSA chose Syft after a rigorous, lab-cased investigation of available technologies Canadian Customs

 In Benelux, private companies provide testing / ventilation services  Syft equipment is used in mobile testing units  Specificity is important – false positives are costly!  High customer satisfaction due to fast, reliable measurement, and large cost savings versus colorimetric tubes European Commercial Customers

Syft’s search for complementary applications  Syft’s ‘gold standard’ CAA application has been sold to ACS, CBSA  European Customs agencies also evaluating Syft for CAA  Is Syft just for ‘Health & Safety’?  What ‘mission-related’ applications can we offer?

Swab Desorption  Trace detection applications for Border Control, Security  Substance identification  SIFT-MS benefit of very high specificity means few false positives

Narcotics 1.Identified via breakdown products, impurities and other indicator compounds. 2.Only the base form is detectable. 3.Salts (e.g. hydrochloride & sulfate) may be detectable via swab based methods.

Drug Precursors 1.Salts ( e.g. hydrochloride & sulfate) may be detectable via swab-based methods. Compound NameGas Phase DetectionSwab-based Detection EphedrineNoYes 1 PseudoephedrineNoYes 1 NorephedrineNoYes 1 P2PYes 2PYes SafroleYes IsosafroleYes PiperonalYes Acetic AnhydrideYes

Explosives & Taggants 1.Practical detection of TNT is via the DNT impurity 2.Plastic explosives may be detectable, but most likely via taggants, e.g. DMNB.

CWAs

CWA Precursors & Surrogates 1. Also detectable are DEMP, DMEP, DEEP and other similar compounds

Australian DOD DSTO Summary  Confirmed ability of Voice to perform analysis of CWAs.  Voice has ability to discriminate CWAs from other interferent analytes.  SIFT-MS can also be used to detect and analyze impurities.  Quantitative evaluation confirmed Voice is capable of detecting GB at ppt level.

SIFT-MS Technology

The science: what does SIFT-MS do? Selected Ion Flow Tube – Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) uses precisely controlled chemical ionisation reactions to detect and quantify trace amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) … from whole air … in real time … with typical detection limits at part-per-trillion level (by volume – pptv)

SIFT-MS Principles

Syft Product Evolution University model 4,000 kg Syft Tech Lab Demo 500 kg Voice100 TM 1 st Commercial 450 kg Voice200 ® 2 nd Gen. 212 kg July 2007 Syft formed Late 2002 July 2007 April 2005