Detection of explosives and other species
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a series of systems, devices, and methods relating to the determination of explosives, such as peroxides or peroxide precursors, and other species. Embodiments of the invention may allow a sample suspected of containing an explosive (e.g., a peroxide) or other species to interact with a reactant, wherein the sample may react and cause light emission from the reactant. Advantages of the present invention may include the simplification of devices for determination of peroxide-based explosives, wherein the devices are portable and, in some cases, disposable. Other advantages may include relative ease of fabrication and operation.
1. A device for determining a vapor phase peroxide or a vapor phase peroxide precursor, comprising:
an inlet for intake of a vapor sample suspected of containing the vapor phase peroxide or vapor phase peroxide precursor;
a sample cell comprising a composition comprising a peroxide-reactive material, a light-emitting material, and a support material, wherein the peroxide-reactive material and the light-emitting material are different, and wherein the composition is in solid form, or, the composition is in solution form and the support material is a liquid having a boiling point of at least 300° C., the sample cell constructed and arranged to receive the vapor sample; and
a detection mechanism in optical communication with the sample cell,
wherein the peroxide-reactive material is a compound having the formula,
wherein R′ is a group comprising a sulfonyl and R″ is 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, 2,4-dinitrophenyl, phenyl, or a substituted derivative of any of these, and the light-emitting material is a compound having the formula,
wherein R is alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in solid form and the peroxide-reactive material and the light-emitting material are supported on the support material.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the peroxide-reactive material, the light-emitting material, and the support material form a solution.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid with a pKa value between 1-6 in neat water and a phenol with a pKa value between 1-6 in neat water.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting material has an emission spectrum between 400-700 nm.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting material is covalently bonded to the peroxide-reactive material.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form and the light-emitting material is covalently bonded to the support material.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising corn starch.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising a gel.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising a solid absorbent material.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form and may be molded into a shape.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the shape is a film, bottle, sphere, tube, strip, or tape.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising silica.
14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer.
15. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 50%.
16. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 75%.
17. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 90%.
18. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 99%.