Wo 2007/108797 A2
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(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (43) International Publication Date (10) International Publication Number 27 September 2007 (27.09.2007) PCT WO 2007/108797 A2 (51) International Patent Classification: R., Glenn [US/US]; GMA Industries, 60 West Street, F42B 8/02 (2006.01) Suite 203, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (US). (21) International Application Number: (74) Agent: SHIRODKAR, Shailaja; ShirodkarGroup, P.A., 2 PCT/US2006/010121 Chester Mill Court, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906 (US). (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (22) International Filing Date: 2 1 March 2006 (21.03.2006) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, (25) Filing Language: English AT,AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, (26) Publication Language: English GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): GMA IN¬ LY,MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NG, NI, DUSTRIES [US/US]; 60 West Street, Suite 203, Annapo NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, lis, Maryland 21401 (US). SK, SL, SM, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, YU, ZA, ZM, ZW (72) Inventors; and (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): ADEBIMPE, (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every David, B. [GB/US]; GMA Industries, 60 West Street, kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, Suite 203, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (US). ZGOL, GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, Marek, A. [US/US]; GMA Industries, 60 West Street, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), Suite 203, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (US). WRIGHT, European (AT,BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, [Continued on next page] (54) Title: A METHOD OF PRODUCING ENERGETICALLY-INERT PSEUDOSCENTS OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, AND COMPOSITIONS THEREOF (57) Abstract: This invention relates to Explosive a method that can be used to scientifically 50 fabricate pseudoscents of explosives, which, in their entirety, are comprised of non-energetic Perform headspace scent materials. It also discloses specific compositions signature analysis of such pseudoscents, which can be used as energetically-inert -but-odoriferously-identical simulants for a range of explosives and are Energetic Non-energetic comprised of non-energetic components of the components components scent signature of an explosive and/or energetic 52 91 scent components of the same headspace scent signature that have been rendered C) Replace A) Successively B) Replace energetic group(s) non-energetic. The scents achievable by the remove backbone with non-energetic energetic of structure group(s) with similar groups of formulations generated by this method groups electronic properties Select components encompass the different types of military and De-energized and disperse within commercial explosives, and the components components the matrix 54 within the pseudoscents can be tuned to generate simulants representative of different qualities Select components and and quantities of such explosives. These disperse within the matrix explosive-scent simulants can be used to bolster De-energized Non-energetic existing explosive detecting dog (EDD) training pseudosce πts pseudoscents (first formulation) (second formulation) programs, establish new training paradigms 55 53 in canine, rodent, insect, and other creature explosive detection and training and, in some cases, increase the efficiencies of analytical Optional combining of non- instruments that rely on the phenomenon of energetic and de-energized vapor sampling to detect explosive materials. components Composite pseudosce πts (composite formulation) 60 FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT,LU, LV,MC, NL, PL, PT, For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid- RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations "appearing at the begin- GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). ning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette. Published: — without international search report and to be republished upon receipt of that report A METHOD OF PRODUCING ENERGETICALLY-INERT PSEUDOSCENTS OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, AND COMPOSITIONS THEREOF FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a method to produce pseudoscents of explosive materials that are themselves entirely devoid of any explosive material, and can be used to compliment or supplant the use of real explosives in the training and evaluation regimen of explosive detecting dogs and other creatures. It also relates to experimental methods for validating such pseudoscents, and defines the compositions of some pseudoscents simulants. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION: Increased concern for terrorist activities has greatly intensified interests in the use of creatures such as explosive sniffing dogs (canines), honeybees and rats, and also sensitive analytical instruments, for the detection of explosives. As a consequence, a need for improved, easy to handle training and calibration aids has emerged. To meet this need, several efforts have been made to develop scent simulants enhancing the process of explosives detection. For example, U. S. Patents, Nos. 5,648,636, 5,413,812 and 5,359,936, to Simpson et ah, relate to explosive simulators which are a combination of an explosive material with an inert material, either in a matrix or as a coating, where the explosive has a high surface ratio but small volume ratio. The simulator has particular use in the training of explosives detecting dogs, calibrating analytical instruments which are sensitive to either vapor or elemental composition, or other applications where the hazards associated with explosives is undesirable but where chemical and/or elemental equivalence is required. The explosive simulants may be fabricated by using different techniques. A first method involves the use of standard slurry coatings to produce a material with a very high binder to explosive ratio without masking the explosive vapor, and a second method involves coating inert substrates with thin layers of explosive. Explosive simulants have also been fabricated for a detection method based on analytical principles. For example, U.S. Patent No 5,958,299 issued to Kury et al. relates to methods for fabricating non-energetic explosive simulants, specifically for equipment designed to remotely detect explosives. The simulants are non-explosive, non-hazardous materials that can be safely handled without any significant precaution. The simulants imitate real explosives in terms of mass density, effective atomic number, x-ray transmission properties, and physical form. These simulants are different from those needed for training creatures, as they are fabricated for a detection method based on analytical principles different from those pertaining to creature, particularly canine, detection, or for the calibration of instruments that rely on the principles of headspace vapor sampling to detect detonable materials. There are several limitations to the types of scent simulants that can be produced from the direct use of real explosives. These limitations stem from the use of a methodology based on principles other than those pertaining to the underpinnings of scent analysis, scent detection, and of pseudoscent formulation. Explosive scent simulants are presently produced by dispersing optimized amounts of the explosive to be simulated within a dispersant, in an attempt to maximize the scent generated while using as little of the explosive as possible. The method leaves unaddressed, issues involving the particular scents generated by explosives, the scents generated by dispersed explosives, scent formulation and control and the relationship of all these to the olfactory capacity, or limitations, of explosive detection creatures. Accordingly, there is continuing interest in the development of explosive-scent simulants, particularly of scent simulants that do not contain any of the energetic materials, or the explosive capacity, of the explosives they are designed to simulate. This is because, as an additional benefit, it would be possible to handle, transport, and store such energetically-inert pseudoscents in ways that would have been impossible as explosives, and which will present logistical relief for explosive detection programs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method that can be used to produce energetically-inert pseudoscents of explosives that smell so similar to the explosive being simulated that both scents are indistinguishable to an explosive detecting creature. Such compositions of pseudoscents can be used as aids for the training and evaluation of creatures, such as dogs, in explosives detection. In one aspect, the invention features a method for producing an energetically-inert pseudoscent of an explosive which includes identifying the energetic components within the headspace scent signature of the explosive, de-energizing the energetic components identified within the headspace scent signature; and combining the de-energized equivalents into a first formulation, wherein the energetically-inert pseudoscent is substantially free of the explosive. In another aspect, the invention features a method for producing an energetically- inert pseudoscent of an explosive which includes identifying the non-energetic components