ODOR SAMPLE FOR EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DOGS, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AN ODOR SAMPLE AND PROCESS FOR USING AN ODOR SAMPLE

1 . An odor sample for explosives detection dogs, the odor sample comprising:

a solution of an explosive in an ionic liquid;

said explosive being a nonperoxidic explosive.

2 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said nonperoxidic explosive is hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), nitropenta (PETN), tetryl or trinitrotoluene (TNT).

3 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid is a lipophilic ionic liquid.

4 . The odor sample according to claim 3 , wherein said ionic liquid contains lipophilic anions.

5 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid contains anions selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroborates, triflimides, perfluoroalkylsulphates, alkylsulphonates, dicyandiamides, alkylsulphates, arylsulphonates, perfluoroalkylsulphonates, bis-perfluoroalkylsulphonimides, acetates, alkylcarboxylates, thiocyanates, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, thiosulphates, borohydrides, borates, phosphates, nitrates, perchlorates and halides.

6 . The odor sample according to claim 5 , wherein said ionic liquid contains iodides, bromides, chlorides or fluorides.

7 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid contains cations selected from the group consisting of N-alkyl-substituted nitrogen heterocycle ions, N-alkylimidazolium and N,N-dialkylimidazolium ions, quaternary ammonium ions and phosphonium ions.

8 . The odor sample according to claim 7 , wherein said N-alkyl-substituted nitrogen heterocycle ions are N-alkylpyridinium.

9 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of:

1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate,

1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonamide),

1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide),

1-hexyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide),

1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate,

1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate,

1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate,

N-(n-hexyl)pyridinium tetrafluoroborate,

N-(n-hexyl)pyridiniumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide),

N-(n-butyl)-3-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate,

N-(n-butyl)-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate,

N-methylpyrrolidine-zinc borohydride,

1-allyl-3-n-butylimidazolium borohydride,

1,3-diallylimidazolium borohydride,

1,3-di(n-octyl)imidazolium borohydride and

1,3-di(n-butyl)imidazolium borohydride.

10 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid itself has a reducing action relative to said explosive or contains a reducing agent reducing the explosive.

11 . The odor sample according to claim 10 , wherein said reducing agent is a sugar, a sulphite, dithionite, thiosulphate, hydrazine, borane, phosphine, a hydride, a metal hydride, zinc, magnesium, a siloxane or a silane.

12 . The odor sample according to claim 11 , wherein said sugar is glucose, fructose, galactose, maltose or lactose and said metal hydride is lithium aluminum hydride or borohydride.

13 . The odor sample according to claim 10 , wherein said ionic liquid which itself has a reducing action relative to the explosive is a thiocyanate or a borohydride.

14 . The odor sample according to claim 13 , wherein said thiocyanate is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate.

15 . The odor sample according to claim 13 , wherein said borohydride is N-methylpyrrolidine-zinc borohydride, 1-allyl-3-n-butylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-diallylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-di(n-octyl)imidazolium borohydride or 1,3-di(n-butyl)imidazolium borohydride.

16 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein the explosive is present in a concentration of not more than 20% by weight, not more than 15% by weight, not more than 12.5% by weight or not more than 10% by weight in the ionic liquid.

17 . The odor sample according to claim 1 , wherein the explosive is present in a concentration of at least 1% by weight, at least 2.5% by weight, at least 5% by weight, at least 7.5% by weight or at least 9% by weight in the ionic liquid.

18 . A process for producing an odor sample for explosives detection dogs, the process comprising dissolving a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid.

19 . A process for using an odor sample, the process comprising using a solution of a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid as a scent source for explosives detection dogs.

20 . The process according to claim 19 , which further comprises using the scent source for test measurements for calibrating detectors.

21 . A process for using an odor sample, the process comprising using a solution of a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid for training explosives detection dogs or other animals suitable for detecting explosive.

22 . The process according to claim 21 , wherein the other animals are rats.