U.S. Army buys 300 Peroxide Explosive Testers from ACRO

Published 1 August 2007

Peroxide-based explosives are easy to make and hard to detect; more and more terrorist organizations are using them, including in IEDs; U.S. Army wants to improve its ability to tackle such explosives

New York-based Acro, Inc., a developer of explosive detection solutions, has received a first order from the U.S. Army for 300 of its ACRO-P.E.T. peroxide explosive testers. ACRO-P.E.T. is a pen-like tester that can identify peroxide-based explosives such as Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), which may appear in different shapes and forms, including liquid explosives. Peroxide-based explosives are almost impossible to identify since they do not contain nitro groups and are colorless. The reason for the Army’s order is that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) based on materials containing peroxide have increasingly been used by terrorist organizations. In addition to the difficulty in detecting them, peroxide-based explosives can be easily home-made using inexpensive, readily available starting materials that can be purchased in most hardware and paint stores, even in bulk quantities.

ACRO-P.E.T. has been designed for rapid, on-site detection of peroxide-based explosives using three chemical solutions through direct contact with the suspicious substance. ACRO-P.E.T. can detect less than 50 micrograms (0.00005 gram) of TATP.