Smiths Detection debuts handheld chemical identifier for harsh environments

A new chemical identifier based on FTIR spectroscopy has been launched by Smiths Detection for the detection of chemical warfare agents, explosives, toxic industrial chemicals, narcotics and suspicious powders. Dubbed the HazMatID Elite, the portable, handheld device measures just 26.9 x 14.3 x 7.9 cm and weighs in at 2.29 kg, which is 10 times smaller and four times lighter than the original HazMatID detector.

The detector can analyse solids or liquids and uses an attenuated total reflectance detector and is equipped with a spectral library of 10,000 chemical warfare agents, explosives, narcotics, toxic industrial chemicals, pesticides, white powder, and other chemical classes. It has the widest thermal and solar operational range of any portable or handheld chemical identifier to date, being designed to function at -20 to 50°C and at 0-100% humidity. Acquired data can be transferred wirelessly over a long range.