Discrimination of liquids by a focal construct X-ray diffraction geometry

•Description of an X-ray diffraction geometry called focal construct technology (FCT).•Advantages of FCT for aviation security screening posts.•Development of FCT with liquid samples.•Discrimination of threat and non-threat liquids by FCT.•Analysis of miscible and immiscible liquid mixtures by FCT.

A novel technique for the discrimination of liquids based upon X-ray diffraction and focal construct technology (FCT) is presented. FCT is a new, high efficiency coherent scatter harvesting technique. In this work, the competence of FCT to discriminate liquids was explored. A variety of liquids relevant to security inspection was analysed by FCT for application to liquid security inspection. Discrimination of potential threat liquids was successfully and reliably achieved even for limited data sets.