
Agilent Technologies announced that UK Border Force is now using Resolve, the company’s handheld Raman system, to detect bulk chemicals — whether benign, hazardous or illegal — through opaque packages and containers. This system is the latest addition to a suite of advanced technologies deployed to detect illegal shipments.
The Resolve system’s through-barrier technology — known as spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) — enables customs and border officers to identify a broad range of threats through opaque and colored containers and packaging materials thereby reducing risk of exposure to harmful materials. These include explosives, toxic chemicals, narcotics and chemical warfare agents.
In scenarios where hazardous materials may be present, opening or disturbing containers can increase risk to the operator and, in some cases, the public. Resolve enables safer operation, keeping hazards contained, reducing or removing the need to take samples.