Dye compositions

1. A dye composition comprising rhodizonate dye particles encapsulated within a shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition, wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition exhibits a hardness value of from 4.0 dmm to 100 dmm at a temperature of 25° C. and comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of shearable hydrophobic organic waxes, greases, semi-solids, jellies, and combinations thereof.

2. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the rhodizonate dye particles are chosen from the group consisting of disodium rhodizonate and potassium rhodizonate.

3. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition comprises an acid number of about 200 or less.

4. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition comprises an acid number of about 15 or less.

5. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition is substantially free of organic hydroxyl groups.

6. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the rhodizonate dye particles comprise from about 0.2 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of the dye composition.

7. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the composition consists essentially of rhodizonate dye particles and the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition.

8. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the composition consists of rhodizonate dye particles and the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition.

9. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein at least some of the rhodizonate dye particles are each individually encapsulated within the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition.

10. The dye composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises at least one particulate abrasive additive.

11. The dye composition of claim 10 wherein the particulate abrasive additive is chosen from the group consisting of glass bubbles, inorganic grit particles, and organic grit particles.

12. The dye composition of claim 10 wherein the at least one solid particulate abrasive additive comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the dye composition.

13. A kit for detecting lead, comprising:

at least one container containing a dye composition comprising rhodizonate dye particles encapsulated within a shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition, wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition exhibits a hardness value of from 4.0 dmm to 100 dmm at a temperature of 25° C. and comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of shearable hydrophobic organic waxes, greases, semi-solids, jellies, and combinations thereof;

and,

at least one container containing an acidic buffer solution.

14. A method of detecting lead, the method comprising:

applying a dye composition comprising rhodizonate dye particles encapsulated within a shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition, wherein the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition exhibits a hardness value of from 4.0 dmm to 100 dmm at a temperature of 25° C. and comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of shearable hydrophobic organic waxes, greases, semi-solids, jellies, and combinations thereof, to a sample potentially containing lead;

and,

bringing an acidic buffer solution into contact with the dye composition;

wherein the applying of the dye composition to the sample and/or the bringing of the acidic buffer solution into contact with the dye composition is performed in such manner as to manually shear the dye composition and the shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition thereof, so as to release at least some of the rhodizonate dye particles from the encapsulant composition so as to allow at least some rhodizonate molecules to partition into the acidic buffer solution to form a detection mixture.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising optically interrogating the detection mixture.