Fluorescence-based chemical detection of amine-based substances
Various techniques are provided to determine the presence of trace chemicals corresponding to various materials of interest. In one example, a method includes providing a chemical reporter of a chemical detector. The chemical reporter includes protonated 2-[5-methoxy-2-(4-phenyl-quinoline-2yl)-phenyl]-ethanol. A vapor-phase amine compound is subsequently received at the chemical reporter. The chemical detector then detects a response of the chemical reporter to the amine compound to determine whether materials of interest are present. Additional methods and related devices are also provided.
1. A method comprising:
providing a chemical reporter of a chemical detector, the chemical reporter comprising protonated 2-[5-methoxy-2-(4-phenyl-quinoline-2y1)-phenyl]-ethanol (PQP);
receiving a vapor-phase amine compound at the chemical reporter; and
detecting, by the chemical detector, a response of the chemical reporter to the amine compound to determine whether the amine compound is present, wherein the detecting is a direct detecting of the amine compound by the protonated PQP.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
illuminating the chemical reporter with an excitation source having an associated wavelength to provide the response as a change in fluorescence in the chemical reporter; and
wherein the detecting is performed by an optical detector.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the change in fluorescence is a decrease in fluorescence.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical reporter comprises a fluorescent reporter.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preparing the protonated PQP.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein preparing the protonated PQP comprises combining PQP and a non-volatile acid.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the non-volatile acid comprises one or more of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid containing polymer, or a sulfonic acid containing polymer.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the carboxylic acid comprises one or more of hexacosanoic acid or stearic acid;
the carboxylic acid containing polymer comprises one or more of polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid; or
the sulfonic acid containing polymer comprises polystyrenesulfonic acid.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amine compound comprises one or more of methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), MDMA hydrochloride, heroin, or heroin hydrochloride.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical detector comprises a substrate reporter surface having a sensing channel comprising a plurality of chemical reporters disposed therein.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical detector comprises a substrate reporter surface having a flat surface comprising a plurality of chemical reporters disposed thereon.
12. A device comprising:
an inlet configured to receive the vapor-phase amine compound; and
the chemical detector comprising the chemical reporter configured to respond to the amine compound, wherein the protonated PQP comprises a combination of PQP and a non-volatile acid, and is configured to perform the method of claim 1 to detect a response of the chemical reporter to the amine compound to determine whether the amine compound is present.
13. The device of claim 12 , further comprising:
an excitation source having an associated wavelength configured to illuminate the chemical reporter to provide the response as a change in fluorescence in the chemical reporter; and
wherein the chemical detector comprises an optical detector.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the change in fluorescence is a decrease in fluorescence.
15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the chemical reporter comprises a fluorescent reporter.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the non-volatile acid comprises one or more of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid containing polymer, or a sulfonic acid containing polymer.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein:
the carboxylic acid comprises one or more of hexacosanoic acid or stearic acid;
the carboxylic acid containing polymer comprises one or more of polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid; or
the sulfonic acid containing polymer comprises polystyrenesulfonic acid.
18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the amine compound comprises one or more of methamphetamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride, cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), MDMA hydrochloride, heroin, or heroin hydrochloride.
19. The device of claim 12 , wherein the chemical detector comprises a substrate reporter surface having a sensing channel comprising a plurality of chemical reporters disposed therein.
20. The device of claim 12 , wherein the chemical detector comprises a substrate reporter surface having a flat surface comprising a plurality of chemical reporters disposed thereon.