Detection of explosives and other species

• US 20080248578A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nomadics, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swager, Timothy M., Deans, Robert, Bardon, Kevin M., Rose, Aimee, Hancock, Lawrence F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,799,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/8
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 471/14 Ortho-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/643 non-biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0057 Warfare agents or explosives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/10 Composition for standardization, calibration, simulation, stabilization, preparation or preservation; processes of use in preparation for chemical testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/20 Oxygen containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/206664 Ozone or peroxide

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A system for determining a peroxide or a peroxide precursor, comprising:

a peroxide-reactive material, a light-emitting material, a support material, and, optionally, a catalyst, wherein the support material has a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of energy capable of converting an organic peroxide explosive to hydrogen peroxide.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, support material, and catalyst, if present, is in solid form.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, support material, and catalyst, if present, is in liquid form.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, and catalyst, if present, is supported on the support material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, and catalyst, if present, are combined in a homogenous mixture, the mixture supported on the support material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, and catalyst, if present, are evenly dispersed within the support material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material;

light-emitting material, and catalyst, if present, are adsorbed onto the support material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein, when combined, the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, the support material, and catalyst, if present, form a solution.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material is a compound having the formula,

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the aryl or heteroaryl group may be substituted with hydrogen, hydroxy, halide, a carbonyl group, an optionally substituted amine, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, cyano, and/or nitro group.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material is bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate, bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate, or oxalic acid bis[2,4,5-trichloro-6-(pentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl]ester.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst enhances the ability of the system to emit light.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is an amine, a hydroxide, an alkoxide, a carboxylic acid salt, or a phenolic salt.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is a carboxylic acid or phenol whose conjugate acid has a pKa value between 1-6 in neat water.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is sodium salicylate, tetrabutylammonium salicylate, potassium salicylate, tetrahexylammonium benzoate, benzyltrimethylammonium m-chlorobenzoate, dimagnesium ethylenediamine tetraacetate, tetraethyl ammonium stearate, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, lithium stearate, triethylamine, pyridine, piperidine, imidazole, triethylene diamine, or potassium trichlorophenoxide, or combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material has an emission spectrum between 330-1200 nm.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is covalently bonded to the peroxide-reactive material.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is covalently bonded to the support material.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is a fluorescent dye.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is a conjugated polymer.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is anthracene, benzanthracene, phenanthrene, naphthacene, pentacene, substituted derivatives thereof, and/or combinations thereof.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is anthracene, diphenylanthracene, or 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material is 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material has the structure,

28. The system of claim 27, wherein R is octyl.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the support material is a liquid.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the support material is a liquid having a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the support material is dicyclohexyl phthalate, dioctyl terephthalate, or an ionic liquid.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the support material is a polymer or copolymer.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the polymer or copolymer is polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate) poly(vinyl benzoate), poly(vinyl acetate), cellulose, corn starch, poly(vinyl pyrrolidinone), polyacrylamide, epoxys, silicones, poly(vinyl butyral), polyurethane, nylons, polacetal, polycarbonate, polyesters and polyethers, crosslinked polymers such as polystyrene-poly(divinyl benzene), polyacrylamide-poly(methylenebisacrylamide), polybutadiene copolymers, or combinations thereof.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the support material is a gel.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the system exhibits chemiluminescence in the presence of a peroxide.

42. The system of claim 1, further comprising a material capable of converting a peroxide precursor to a peroxide.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the material comprises an acid.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 50%.

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

36-40. -40. (canceled)

45-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method for making a composition for determining a peroxide or a peroxide precursor, comprising:

forming a fluid mixture comprising a peroxide-reactive material, a light-emitting material, a support material or support material precursor, and, optionally, a catalyst, to produce a composition that is emissive in the presence of a peroxide, wherein the composition has a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

solidifying the fluid mixture to produce a solid composition that is emissive in the presence of a peroxide.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the emissive composition is chemiluminescent.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein forming the fluid mixture comprises dissolving or suspending the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, support material or support material precursor, and catalyst, if present, in an auxiliary fluid.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the auxiliary fluid is a solvent, and forming the fluid mixture comprises dissolving the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, support material or support material precursor, and catalyst, if present, in the solvent.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the solvent is ethylene glycol ethers, diethyl ether, diamyl ether, diphenyl ether, anisole, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethyl acetate, propyl formate, amyl acetate, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, methyl formate, triacetin, diethyl oxalate, dioctyl terphthalate, citric acid ester, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, butyl benzoate, benzene, ethyl benzene, butyl benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene;

o-dichlorobenzene, m-dichlorobenzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, hexachloroethylene, tetrachlorotetrafluoropropane, or combinations thereof.

63. The method of claim 48, wherein the peroxide-reactive material is an oxalate ester having the formula,

66. The method of claim 48, wherein the catalyst enhances the ability of the system to emit light.

69. The method of claim 48, wherein the catalyst is sodium salicylate, tetrabutylammonium salicylate, potassium salicylate, tetrahexylammonium benzoate, benzyltrimethylammonium m-chlorobenzoate, dimagnesium ethylenediamine tetraacetate, tetraethyl ammonium stearate, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, lithium stearate, triethylamine, pyridine, piperidine, imidazole, triethylene diamine, or potassium trichlorophenoxide.

75. The method of claim 48, wherein the light-emitting material is a fluorescent dye.

82. The method of claim 48, wherein the support material is a liquid.

83. The method of claim 48, wherein the support material is a liquid having a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater.

84. The method of claim 48, wherein the support material is dicyclohexyl phthalate, dioctyl terephthalate, or an ionic liquid.

92. The method of claim 48, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, the catalyst, and the light-emitting material are evenly dispersed within the support material.

94. The system of claim 48, further comprising a material capable of converting a peroxide:

precursor to a peroxide.

51-56. -56. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

61-62. -62. (canceled)

64-65. -65. (canceled)

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70-74. -74. (canceled)

76-81. -81. (canceled)

85-91. -91. (canceled)

93. (canceled)

95. (canceled)

96. A method for determining a peroxide, comprising:

exposing a composition comprising a peroxide-reactive material to a vapor suspected of containing a peroxide, wherein the peroxide, if present, causes the composition to generate a determinable signal, wherein the composition has a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater; and

determining the signal.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the peroxide-reactive material is an oxalate ester having the formula,

100. The method of claim 96, wherein the composition further comprises a light-emitting material.

105. The method of claim 100, wherein the light-emitting material is a fluorescent dye.

107. The method of claim 100, wherein the light-emitting material is anthracene, benzanthracene, phenanthrene, naphthacene, pentacene, substituted derivatives thereof, and/or combinations thereof.

108. The method of claim 100, wherein the light-emitting material is anthracene, diphenylanthracene, or 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene.

110. The method of claim 100, wherein the light-emitting material has the structure,

112. The method of claim 96, wherein the composition further comprises a support material.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the support material is a liquid.

115. The system of claim 112, wherein the support material is dicyclohexyl phthalate, dioctyl terephthalate, or an ionic liquid.

124. The method of claim 96, wherein the composition further comprises a catalyst.

125. The method of claim 124, wherein the catalyst enhances the ability of the system to emit light.

131. The method of claim 96, wherein the signal is emission of light.

132. The method of claim 96, wherein the peroxide or peroxide precursor is an explosive.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein the explosive is triacteone triperoxide (TATP).

134. The method of claim 132, wherein the explosive is hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD).

98-99. -99. (canceled)

101-104. -104. (canceled)

106. (canceled)

109. (canceled)

111. (canceled)

114. (canceled)

116-123. -123. (canceled)

126-130. -130. (canceled)

135-170. -170. (canceled)

171. A method for determination of an organic peroxide explosive, comprising:

exposing a sensor material to a vapor suspected of containing an organic peroxide explosive, wherein the organic peroxide explosive, if present, causes the sensor material to generate a determinable signal, wherein the sensor material has a boiling point of at least 300°

C. or greater; and

determining the signal.

172. The method of claim 171, wherein the sensor material further comprises a peroxide-reactive material, the method further comprising exposing the vapor to a source of energy wherein the organic peroxide explosive, if present, is converted to hydrogen peroxide which, if present, reacts with the peroxide-reactive material and causes the sensor material to generate a determinable signal.

173. The method of claim 172, wherein the source of energy is electromagnetic radiation.

175. The method of claim 173, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of 254 nm or less.

176. The method of claim 173, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of 200 nm or less.

177. The method of claim 171, wherein the sensor material further comprises a peroxide-reactive material, the method further comprising exposing the vapor to an acid wherein the organic peroxide explosive, if present, is converted to hydrogen peroxide which, if present, reacts with the peroxide-reactive material and causes the sensor material to generate a determinable signal.

174. (canceled)

178-185. -185. (canceled)

189. A method for determination of a peroxide precursor, comprising:

exposing a vapor suspected of containing a peroxide precursor to conditions sufficient to convert the peroxide precursor, if present, to a peroxide;

exposing a composition comprising a peroxide-reactive material to the vapor, wherein the peroxide, if present, causes the composition to generate a determinable signal; and

determining the signal.

190-205. -205. (canceled)