China's prestigious Tsinghua University has developed an advanced container computerized tomography (CT) screening system capable of distinguishing between substances such as sugar and cocaine, gasoline and water.

Researchers of the Nuclear Energy Technology and Design Institute attached to the university on Friday explained the advantages of their invention, the cobalt 60 container computerized tomography screening system.

The new system works on similar principles as the computerized tomography system widely used in hospitals, by revolving around a container and taking photographs of every section profile and ascertaining the contents according to the photos.

The currently widely-used container screening system operated in a similar way to the X-ray examination system in hospitals and could only give overlapping pictures of the contents. Therefore, some physically similar objects, such as sugar and cocaine, gasoline and water were hard to differentiate, said the researchers.

However, efficient narcotics and explosives detection is a major task for customs officials in every country.

An Jigang, the program leader of the new container system research, said the cobalt 60 container CT screening system could accurately distinguish narcotics and explosives from physically similar objects.

The invention could become a global leader in the container screening field.