Method for remote detection of trace contaminants

• US 6,617,591 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Simonson, Robert J., Hance, Bradley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/004,921
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 250/459.1, 250/302, 250/458.1, 436/166, 436/172, 436/56
• US Class Current: 250/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/643 non-biological material

Abstract

A method for remote detection of trace contaminants in a target area comprises applying sensor particles that preconcentrate the trace contaminant to the target area and detecting the contaminant-sensitive fluorescence from the sensor particles. The sensor particles can have contaminant-sensitive and contaminant-insensitive fluorescent compounds to enable the determination of the amount of trace contaminant present in the target are by relative comparison of the emission of the fluorescent compounds by a local or remote fluorescence detector. The method can be used to remotely detect buried minefields.

Claims

1. A method for the remote detection of trace contaminants in a target area, comprising:

a) applying sensor particles to the target area, the sensor particles capable of preconcentrating the trace contaminant and having a contaminant-sensitive fluorescent compound with optical emission that is sensitive to the presence of the trace contaminant and a contaminant-insensitive fluorescent compound with optical emission that is insensitive to the presence of the trace contaminant;

b) detecting the optical emission of the contaminant-sensitive fluorescent compound and the optical emission of the contaminant-insensitive fluorescent compound with a detection means; and

c) comparing the optical emission of the contaminant-sensitive fluorescent compound to the optical emission of the contaminant-insensitive fluorescent compound to determine the amount of trace contaminant present in the target area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing the target area to a mobile phase prior to step b).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile phase is water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant-sensitive fluorescent compound comprises an iptycene-derived phenyleneethynylene polymer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the contaminant-insensitive fluorescent compound comprises p-bis(o-methylstyryl)-benzene.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target area comprises soil.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor particles comprise styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor particles comprise polymer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the trace contaminant comprises a nitroaromatic compound.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the trace contaminant comprises trinitrotoluene or dinitrotoluene.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection means is a laser-induced-fluorescence instrument.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detection means is a light detection and ranging instrument.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the detection means is an imaging fluorescence instrument.