Detection of explosives and other species

• US 7,799,573 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Normadics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bardon, Kevin M., Rose, Aimee, Hancock, Lawrence F., Swager, Timothy M., Deans, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh; Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISZ, DAVID G
• Application Number:
  US11/784,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 436/135
• 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 for warfare agents or explosives properties of explosives G01N33/227
• 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, the peroxide-reactive material is bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate, and the light-emitting material is;

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, and catalyst, if present, is supported on the support material.

4. 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.

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

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, and catalyst, if present, are adsorbed onto the support material.

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

12. The system of claim 1, wherein R is octyl.

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

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

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the material comprises an acid.

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

forming a liquid 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, the peroxide-reactive material is bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate, and the light-emitting material is;

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

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

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the emissive composition is chemiluminescent.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the liquid 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.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the auxiliary fluid is a solvent, and forming the liquid mixture comprises dissolving the peroxide-reactive material, light-emitting material, support material or support material precursor, and catalyst, if present, in the solvent.

22. The method of claim 21, 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.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the catalyst enhances the ability of the system to emit light.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, the catalyst, and the light-emitting material are evenly dispersed within the support material.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising a material of converting peroxid precursor to a peroxid.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the catalyst enhances the ability of the system to emit light.

26. A method for determining a peroxide, comprising:

exposing a composition comprising a peroxide-reactive material, a light-emitting material, a support material or support material precursor, and, optionally, a catalyst to a vapor suspected of containing a peroxide,

wherein the peroxide-reactive material is bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate, the light-emitting material is;

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the signal is emission of light.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the peroxide or peroxide precursor is an explosive.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the explosive is triacteone triperoxide (TATP).

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the explosive is hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD).