Poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) composition, method for production of a poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) composition, TCE-detecting method and sensor

• US 6,461,872 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Sivavec, Timothy Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena
• Application Number:
  US09/441,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 436/124-126, 436/106-118
• US Class Current: 436/112
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 organic contamination in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/17 Nitrogen containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/174614 Tertiary amine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/19 Halogen containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/196666 Carbon containing compound [e.g., vinylchloride, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/24 Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry

Abstract

A composition of matter has the formula:

where n is an integer equal or greater than 1. The composition of matter possesses characteristic absorbance behavior with respect to infrared and visible energy, which is used to detect and determine the concentration of TCE. In another aspect, a method for generating the composition comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) in accordance with the formula:

where n is an integer equal or greater than 1. Also, the invention sets forth a sensor to detect trichloroethylene (TCE) in materials. The sensor includes the composition of material that can absorb at least one of infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) or visible (VIS) energies when formed by the reaction of trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine).

Claims

1. A method for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE) in a material, the method comprising:

contacting the trichloroethylene (TCE) in the material with poly(ethylenimine);

generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone); and

monitoring an intensity of infrared (IR) absorbance at 1658 cm<sup>−

1</sup>, wherein the step of contacting the trichloroethylene (TCE) with the poly(ethylenimine) increases an infrared absorbance at 1658 cm<sup>−

1</sup> and an intensity of the infrared absorbance is related to an initial trichloroethylene (TCE) concentration in the material for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the amide infrared absorbance is linearly related to an initial trichloroethylene (TCE) concentration in the material.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) by:

where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) imbedded or coated on a solid support in the presence of sodium hydroxide and chlorine.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting of trichloroethylene (TCE) occurs in groundwater.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting of trichloroethylene (TCE) occurs in unsaturated soil or a vadose zone.

7. A sensor for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE) in a material, the sensor comprising:

a poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material in the sensor, the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material comprising at least poly(ethylenimine), poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) having an infrared (IR) absorption at 1658 cm<sup>−

1</sup>,

at least one detector that measures infrared (IR) absorbance at 1658 cm<sup>−

1</sup>,

wherein the sensor detects trichloroethylene (TCE) by reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) in the material with poly(ethylenimine) in the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material;

generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone); and

monitoring an intensity of infrared (IR) absorbance at 1658 cm<sup>−

1</sup>, the intensity of the infrared absorbance being related to a concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE) introduced to the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material.

8. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the intensity of the amide infrared absorbance is linearly related to an initial trichloroethylene (TCE) concentration.

9. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the generation of the generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) results from reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethyleimine) by:

where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

10. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) occurs in the presence of sodium hydroxide.

11. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater.

12. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a fiber optic optrode.

13. A method for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE) in a material, the method comprising:

contacting the trichloroethylene (TCE) with a poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing-material comprising poly(ethylenimine);

generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone); and

monitoring an absorbance intensity in the visible (VIS) spectra, wherein the step of contacting the trichloroethylene (TCE) with the poly(ethylenimine) increases the visible (VIS) absorbance in a range from about 400 nm to about 525 nm, and the intensity of the visible (VIS) absorbance is related to the concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE) introduced to the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone)-producing material for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE).

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) by:

where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) comprises reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) imbedded or coated on a solid support in the presence of sodium hydroxide.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the detecting of trichloroethylene (TCE) occurs in unsaturated soil step or a vadose zone.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the detecting of trichloroethylene (TCE) occurs in groundwater.

18. A sensor for detecting trichloroethylene (TCE) in a material, the sensor comprising:

a poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material in the sensor, the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material comprising at least poly(ethylenimine); and

at least one monitor that measures visible (VIS) absorbance in a range from about 400 nm to about 525 nm,

wherein the sensor detects trichloroethylene (TCE) in the material by reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) in the material and the poly(ethylenimine) in the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material;

generating poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone); and

monitoring an intensity of visible (VIS) absorbance in a range from about 400 nm to about 525 nm, the intensity of the visible (VIS) absorbance is related to a concentration of trichloroethylene (TCE) introduced to the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) producing material.

19. A sensor according to claim 18, wherein the generation of the poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) results from reacting trichloroethylene (TCE) with poly(ethylenimine) by:

where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

20. A sensor according to claim 18, wherein generation of poly(1,4-ethylene-2-piperazone) occurs in the presence of sodium hydroxide.

21. A sensor according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater.

22. A sensor according to claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a fiber optic optrode.

23. A sensor according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect trichloroethylene (TCE) in unsaturated soil step or a vadose zone.