Detection of Substances of Interest Using Gas-Solid Phase Chemistry

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for detecting a chemical substance. The methods and systems include using gas-solid phase chemistry to chemically and/or physically modify a substance of interest so that the substance can be vaporized and detected through an analysis of the substance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A substance detection system, the system comprising:
 a sampling trap including a substantially non-volatile substance of interest;   a housing including a clustering agent, the housing configured to vaporize the clustering agent;   a thermal desorber configured to receive the sampling trap, wherein the desorber is configured to vaporize the substance of interest;   a transfer line, wherein the transfer line connects the housing to the desorber and transfers the vaporized clustering agent from the housing to the desorber, wherein the vaporized clustering agent increases the volatility of the substance of interest;   an analysis device coupled in flow communication with the desorber, the analysis device configured to receive the vaporized substance of interest from the desorber and perform an analysis of the substance of interest.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clustering agent includes at least one of an organic acid, a crown ether, an amine, an ester, an amide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substance of interest includes at least one of an explosive, an energetic material, a taggant, a narcotic, a toxin, a chemical warfare agent, a biological warfare agent, a pollutant, a pesticide, a toxic industrial chemical, a toxic industrial material, a homemade explosive, a pharmaceutical trace contaminant and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the substance of interest includes at least one of nitrates, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrites, chlorites, permanganates, chromates, dichromates, bromates, iodates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporized clustering agent is transferred to the desorber at a flow rate of from about 5 cc/min to about 1,000 cc/min. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vaporized clustering agent is transferred to the desorber at a concentration of from about 0.01 μg/min to about 250 μg/min.