Presentation from Ancon at the Centre for Defence Enterprise Marketplace held on 5 February 2015. For more info see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mod-brings-businesses-together-for-innovative-defence-ideas

1. 1
Ultra Sensitive Vapour Detection
with Nanotechnology Molecular Tagging
(NMT)
CDE– Marketplace presentation
5th February 2015
Dr Robert Muir
robert.muir@ancontechnologies.com
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons

2. 2
Agenda
 Introduction to Ancon
 Overview of Ancon's NMT technology
 Capability demonstrated in CDE funded projects
 Potential benefits of CDE funded innovations
 Further support and input required
 Summary
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons

3. 3
Introduction to Ancon Technologies
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
• Founded 2003 based in Canterbury, England
• New concept for the detection of airborne trace vapours
• Individual molecules counted – giving unprecedented
sensitivities
• Potential for non-contact/stand-off detection of
explosives, chemical weapons, drugs etc.
• Granted USA and GB patents plus pipeline of additional IP
to be filed

4. 4
Target molecules are
ionised and selected using
standard ion selection
techniques (e.g. IMS or
FAIMS).
The selected target ions are
mixed with specialised
tags.
Tagging allows for the ions
to be counted individually
with optical techniques.
Tag
Generator
Tagging
Chamber
Tagged Ion
Extractor
Tagged Ion
Counter
Selected
Ions
NMT
Nanotechnology Molecular Tagging
(NMT)
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons

5. 5
Progress
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014Year
Detection limit trend (in cm-3 of air Log10N)
Dogs
Alternative Technologies
Level of
detection
required

6. 6
Overview of CDE projects
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
• CDE phase 1
 Proof-of-concept for detection of explosives with FAIMS
ion selection (DNT, TNT and ammonium nitrate).
• CDE phase 2a
 Development of modular NMT and demonstrated
explosives detection (DNT).
• CDE – Detection of Airborne Chemical Hazards
 Development of IMS ion selection interface with NMT for
the detection of <1 ppb DMMP.

7. 7
Potential Benefits
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons

8. 8
Upgrade current swab systems
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
Improve sensitivity by
several orders of magnitude
• Higher effectiveness of
detection
• Chance to detect low
volatility explosives

9. 9
Non-contact vapour detection to enhance
baggage screening
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
Include vapour
detector
alongside X-ray
scanners
Image courtesy of Miki Yoshihito, CC BY 2.0

10. 10
Non-contact/stand-off detection of explosives,
chemical weapons, drugs and other contraband
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
Calculations suggest
that a buried mine
could be detected at
100m

11. 11
Powerful analytical tool for forensics analysis
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons
Performance
comparable to
GC-MS
Compact, robust,
affordable and
easy to use
Image courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory , CC BY 2.0

12. 12
 Potential for non-contact/stand-off detection of
explosives, chemical weapons, drugs and other
contraband
 Upgrade current IMS systems sensitivity by several
orders of magnitude
 Non-contact vapour detection to enhance baggage
screening
 Powerful analytical tool for forensics and other analyses
Summary of Potential Benefits
05/02/2015 CDE Marketplace 2015 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons

13. 19/11/2014 Innovative Research Call 2013 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons – Phase 2 13
ANCON Status and Requirements
• ANCON has secured funding to TRL7
• Seeking additional funds and partners to
complete commercialisation
 Engineering
 Manufacturing
 Marketing and sales

14. 19/11/2014 Innovative Research Call 2013 – Detection of Explosives and Weapons – Phase 2 14
End