Navigation Links
Explosives and fish are traced with chemical tags
Date:1/12/2012

Researchers at the University of Oviedo (Spain) have come up with a way of tagging gunpowder which allows its illegal use to be detected even after it has been detonated. Based on the addition of isotopes, the technique can also be used to track and differentiate between wild fish and those from a fish farm, such as trout and salmon.

A new method for tagging and identifying objects, substances and living beings has just been presented in this month's issue of the Analytical Chemistry journal. Its creators are scientists at the University of Oviedo who have patented the procedure for inserting chemical tags into products in a way that allows them to be unmistakably identified over time.

The technique consists of adding two stable (non-radioactive) isotopes (types of the same chemical element but with a different number of neutrons) at an established ratio to the object that is to be followed. Then, with an instrument called a mass spectrometer, a sample can be verified as having the predefined isotope ratio. If it does, it is therefore the tagged product.

"This technology is applicable to the invisible tagging of manufactured substances and objects such as explosives, jewellery, artwork, foods and medicines, which helps to prevent fraud and counterfeiting," explains to SINC Jos Ignacio Garca Alonso, one of its authors. "Through simple analytical techniques, a product can be traced from its origin and any possible illegal uses can be detected," he adds.

The researchers have applied this method to gunpowder, an example of an explosive, by adding two tin isotopes (Sn117 and Sn119). After preparing three different mixes (each with differing isotopic proportions so that they can be distinguished from one another), the results reveal that even after detonation the added tags can still be detected in the explosion remains.

Garca Alonso states that "such a procedure can be used in tagging explosives for civil or mili
'/>"/>

Contact: SINC
info@agenciasinc.es
34-914-251-820
FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Source:Eurekalert  

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. NIST, ASTM land a one-two punch to fight explosives terrorism
2. Sensors to detect explosives, monitor food being developed at UH
3. International Drug & Explosives Detection Company IDenta Corp Reports on BTK- Bullet Hole Testing Kit
4. Developing enzymes to clean up pollution by explosives
5. New NIST trace explosives standard slated for homeland security duty
6. Water acts as catalyst in explosives
7. New method for detecting explosives
8. Tree-killing pathogen traced back to California
9. University of Tennessee scientist: Flowers rapid growth rate can be traced back 65 million years
10. Impaired brain connections traced to schizophrenia mutation
11. Form of Crohns disease traced to disabled gut cells
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Explosives and fish are traced with chemical tags
(Date:5/22/2013)... a novel technique that can detect molecular variants in ... one of the most important, though time-consuming, processes in ... in Nature , post-doctoral researcher David Patterson, Professor ... the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in Hamburg, ... fields to identify molecular variants apart, and to determine ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... to genetic engineering drastically reduces the time and ... the workhorses of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. Published ... the method paves the way for more rapid ... cleanup and other activities. , Keith Shearwin and ... of the genetic material DNA into a bacterium,s ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... bacteria is responsible for legionellosis, an infectious disease ... us, this pathogen has developed a complex method enabling ... cells, thus avoiding these acting against the infectious bacteria. ... CIC bioGUNE, in which teams from the National Institute ... Supercomputation Centre in Barcelona (BSC) have also participated, has ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Detecting mirror molecules 2Detecting mirror molecules 3Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism 2
... (a local area of bulge) in the abdominal aortathe largest ... fact, about half of these patients don,t make it to ... not face open surgery to repair the blood vessel. This ... ruptured aneurysms called endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is safer than ...
... for sustainability of the ocean,s fisheries, solutions can be found ... a study published on March 23 in the journal ... fisheries yields over seven centuries of human habitation in Hawaii ... the United States, and evaluated the management strategies associated with ...
... skilled at patching up damage that would stop normal cells ... protective caps at the end of each chromosome. Loss ... into a growth arrest state called "senescence," but cancer cells ... eroded telomeres. If telomerase fails to activate, the tumor ...
Cached Biology News:Minimally invasive treatment for ruptured aneurysm: Safe, reduces mortality 2Minimally invasive treatment for ruptured aneurysm: Safe, reduces mortality 3Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability 2Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability 3Salk scientists open new window into how cancers override cellular growth controls 2Salk scientists open new window into how cancers override cellular growth controls 3
(Date:5/24/2013)... Madison, WI (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 ... to the discovery and development of calcium-binding proteins ... publication of safety assessment study of apoaequorin ... an international journal published for the British Industrial ... the study was to investigate potential adverse effects, ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Can economic incentives ... work motivate members of the public to increase their ... Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Assistant Professor ... Pointing to a large body of recent research that ... May 24, 2013, issue of Science that the World ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... The maker community is a contemporary ... They focus on learning practical skills while applying them ... bringing their ideas to life via crowdfunding. A subgroup ... making projects using biology. Glowing Plant has worked for ... them glow with bioluminescence genes, and has now pursued ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013 BioTrends Research ... advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds that, ... infectious disease specialists reported that in the past ... intentionally delaying treatment) in anticipation of the next ... months ago, when only 6 percent reported that ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Safety Assessment Study of Apoaequorin Published in Food and Chemical Toxicology 2Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 2Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 3Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home 2The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 2The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 3
... Innovex,s best-in-class sales coaching tool, powered by ... Award for Sales, CHICAGO and BRACKNELL, ... received the Ventana Research 2007 Operational Performance,Leadership ... excellence in,orchestrating people, process, information and technology ...
... MEETING, Pa., Nov. 9 Genaera,Corporation (Nasdaq: GENR ... nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007. The net loss ... million, or,$(0.21) per basic and diluted share, as compared ... basic and diluted share, for the three-month period,ended September ...
... skin tests at once with minimal patient discomfort, ... Unit announced today the launch of the ComforTen(TM) ... The device features ten,surgical steel 1.2mm lancet tips, ... ComforTen is the only 10-test, self-loading,surgical steel testing ...
Cached Biology Technology:ForceLogix, Innovex Win Sales Operational Performance Award 2ForceLogix, Innovex Win Sales Operational Performance Award 3Genaera Corporation Announces Third Quarter Financial Results 2Genaera Corporation Announces Third Quarter Financial Results 3Genaera Corporation Announces Third Quarter Financial Results 4Genaera Corporation Announces Third Quarter Financial Results 5HollisterStier Offers Comfort With New ComforTen(TM) Multiple Skin Testing Device 2HollisterStier Offers Comfort With New ComforTen(TM) Multiple Skin Testing Device 3