Various techniques are provided to determine the presence of trace chemicals corresponding to various materials of interest. In one example, a method includes receiving a vapor-phase nitric acid precursor. The vapor-phase nitric acid precursor is subsequently hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid catalyst to form nitric acid. The nitric acid is then received at a chemical reporter of a chemical detector. A response of the chemical reporter to the nitric acid is detected by the chemical reporter to determine whether materials of interest are present. Additional methods and related devices are also provided.

A method of measuring nitrate concentration in an aqueous sample include mixing the aqueous sample with a water-soluble thioether compound including a chromophore group in the presence of a water soluble catalyst; measuring a color change, and correlating the color change to nitrate concentration.

A complex for use in detecting nitrite includes the structure of Formula (I)

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A wipe for detecting the presence of an explosive substance is composed of an absorbent or adsorbent substrate and a chemical detection solution impregnated within the substrate. In one embodiment the chemical detection solution includes a combination of reagents operable, when contacted with a particular explosive substance to undergo a chemical reaction or a series of chemical reactions to produce a compound having a visible color. In another embodiment, the chemical detection solution includes a redox color indicating agent that is operable to exhibit a color change upon reacting with the explosive substance.

A system and method is provided for detection at least one of nitrite (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and other nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) on a substrate, such as skin. According to one aspect, a diagnostic device for measuring a concentration of at least one of nitrite (NO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), and other nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) on a substrate comprises a patch comprising at least one chemical compound capable of reacting with the at least one of nitrite, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, and other nitrogen oxides to provide an indicator.

A compound, or a protonate or salt thereof, having a formula I of: wherein Y represents an optionally substituted aromatic group; n is 1 or 2; a is 0 to 4; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently H; optionally substituted alkyl; optionally substituted aralkyl; acyl; phosphonyl; SO.sub.2R.sup.12; C(O)R.sup.13; C(O)OR.sup.14; C(O)NR.sup.15R.sup.16; C(O)CH.sub.2R.sup.17; or C(S)NR.sup.18R.sup.19; S(O)R20; or SO.sub.2NR.sup.21R.sup.22, wherein R.sup.12-R.sup.22 are each independently H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or C(O)R.sup.23, wherein R.sup.23 is H, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aralkyl, or optionally substituted aryl; and each R.sup.3 is independently optionally substituted alkyl, halogen, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted carboxyl, amide; amino; or nitro.

Colorimetric explosive detection kits comprising compact and flexible packaging with an explosive collection assembly and detection reagents disposed thereon in a single-easy-to use system.

The present invention relates to a container (1) apt to contain urine, for the determination of analytes and/or chemico-physical parameters, and of urinary sediment, via an automated analyzer, the container comprising a) a containment region (9) having an opening (3) with a tightenable and pierceable closure element (4); b) a reading region (5) with one or more colorimetric reaction pads (6) made integral with an inner wall of the container; c) an impermeable and pierceable separation septum (10) positioned between the containment region (9) and the reading region (5). The present invention also relates to a method of running a full test of urine on an automated analyzer, including physical-chemical examination and urine sediment, which comprises the steps of a) filling the above-mentioned container (1) from a primary collection container by suction regulated from pre-calibrated vacuum; b) loading the container (1) on the automatic analyzer; c) piercing the closure element (4) with a sampler and mixer needle (20); d) mixing the sample in the containment region (9) and withdrawing some urine to be transferred to the analyzer for the automatic reading of the urinary sediment e) piercing the septum (10) and retracting the sampler needle (20) such that urine flows into the reading region (5) f) waiting for a specified time for the generation of color reactions; g) performing an automatic reading of the colorimetric reactions using a sensor integrated in the analyzer.

A wipe for detecting the presence of an explosive substance is composed of an absorbent or adsorbent substrate and a chemical detection solution impregnated within the substrate. In one embodiment the chemical detection solution includes a combination of reagents operable, when contacted with a particular explosive substance to undergo a chemical reaction or a series of chemical reactions to produce a compound having a visible color. In another embodiment, the chemical detection solution includes a redox color indicating agent that is operable to exhibit a color change upon reacting with the explosive substance.

Provided is a water quality analysis device capable of keeping the device in a clean state without leaving an operation at the time of device power supply activation to an operator and without wasting time and wash water. The water quality analysis device is configured such that: a memory 21 capable of storing a stored content in a cut-off state of the device power supply is provided; the states of the vessels, such as an IC reactor 1 and a TC reactor 2, in which sample water is injected at the time of an analysis operation are sequentially stored in the memory 21; contents of the memory 21 are read at the time of the device power supply activation; and a cleaning operation is automatically executed according to prescribed procedures with the states read for each reactor 1 and 2 as a starting point. Thus, even after the power supply interruption due to, e.g., power outage, the device is kept in a clean state with minimum necessary operations.