Substrate Containing Latent Vaporization Reagents

Inorganic oxidizers. including chlorates, perchlorates, permanganates, dichromates, osmium tetraoxides, etc., play a critical role in various industrial processes, academic research, and forensic science. However, detecting these compounds accurately and efficiently has been quite challenging with conventional methods. One of the primary issues with current methods is the need for chemical assays, which can be time-consuming and require significant manual labor. Additionally, because conventional methods often lack specificity and sensitivity, they can lead to inaccurate detection or false-positive results. The prevalence of these complicating factors emphasizes the need for a more efficient, reliable, and practical approach.

Technology Description

The technology introduces methods and reagents that improve the detection of inorganic oxidizers, including but not limited to chlorates, perchlorates, permanganates, dichromates, and osmium tetraoxides. It employs latent acid-generating reagents, which are chemically stable at room temperature but convert into an acidic form when exposed to elevated temperatures or radiation. The acidic form can then transfer a proton to the anion of the target analyte, producing an acid that is easily vaporized and detected. Additionally, the method incorporates the use of heat-sensitive inorganic salts and/or photosensitive onium salts. What makes this technology unique is its efficient system of using heat or radiation to activate latent reagents, leading to the formation of acids that are more readily vaporized and thereby easier to detect. This process makes the detection process of inorganic oxidizers more efficient and accurate. Furthermore, in specific implementations, these reagents can be embedded in a swipe, infused onto a swipe by using a nebulizer, or deployed in a desorption chamber of an ion-mobility spectrometer or similar detector.