Detection of explosives and other species

• US 9,005,524 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne FLIR Defense Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nomadics, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Deans, Robert, Rose, Aimee, Bardon, Kevin M., Hancock, Lawrence F., Swager, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/833,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20120107946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/52
• 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 device for determining a vapor phase peroxide or a vapor phase peroxide precursor, comprising:

an inlet for intake of a vapor sample suspected of containing the vapor phase peroxide or vapor phase peroxide precursor;

a sample cell comprising a composition comprising a peroxide-reactive material, a light-emitting material, and a support material, wherein the peroxide-reactive material and the light-emitting material are different, and wherein the composition is in solid form, or, the composition is in solution form and the support material is a liquid having a boiling point of at least 300°

C., the sample cell constructed and arranged to receive the vapor sample; and

a detection mechanism in optical communication with the sample cell,

wherein the peroxide-reactive material is a compound having the formula,

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the composition is in solid form and the peroxide-reactive material and the light-emitting material are supported on the support material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the peroxide-reactive material, the light-emitting material, and the support material form a solution.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid with a pKa value between 1-6 in neat water and a phenol with a pKa value between 1-6 in neat water.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting material has an emission spectrum between 400-700 nm.

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

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form and the light-emitting material is covalently bonded to the support material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising corn starch.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising a gel.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising a solid absorbent material.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form and may be molded into a shape.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the shape is a film, bottle, sphere, tube, strip, or tape.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the support material is in solid form, comprising silica.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a buffer.

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

16. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 75%.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 90%.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the presence of a peroxide, the light-emitting material has a quantum yield of at least 99%.