ODOR SAMPLE FOR EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DOGS, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AN ODOR SAMPLE AND PROCESS FOR USING AN ODOR SAMPLE

Abstract

An odor sample for explosives detection dogs includes a solution of the explosive in an ionic liquid, wherein the explosive is a nonperoxidic explosive. A process for producing an odor sample for explosives detection dogs as well as a process for using an odor sample for explosives detection dogs are also provided.

Claims

1. An odor sample for explosives detection dogs, the odor sample comprising: a solution of an explosive in an ionic liquid; said explosive being a nonperoxidic explosive.

2. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said nonperoxidic explosive is hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), nitropenta (PETN), tetryl or trinitrotoluene (TNT).

3. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid is a lipophilic ionic liquid.

4. The odor sample according to claim 3, wherein said ionic liquid contains lipophilic anions.

5. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid contains anions selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroborates, triflimides, perfluoroalkylsulphates, alkylsulphonates, dicyandiamides, alkylsulphates, arylsulphonates, perfluoroalkylsulphonates, bis-perfluoroalkylsulphonimides, acetates, alkylcarboxylates, thiocyanates, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, thiosulphates, borohydrides, borates, phosphates, nitrates, perchlorates and halides.

6. The odor sample according to claim 5, wherein said ionic liquid contains iodides, bromides, chlorides or fluorides.

7. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid contains cations selected from the group consisting of N-alkyl-substituted nitrogen heterocycle ions, N-alkylimidazolium and N,N-dialkylimidazolium ions, quaternary ammonium ions and phosphonium ions.

8. The odor sample according to claim 7, wherein said N-alkyl-substituted nitrogen heterocycle ions are N-alkylpyridinium.

9. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonamide), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, N-(n-hexyl)pyridinium tetrafluoroborate, N-(n-hexyl)pyridiniumbis(trifluoromethanesulphonimide), N-(n-butyl)-3-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, N-(n-butyl)-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, N-methylpyrrolidine-zinc borohydride, 1-allyl-3-n-butylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-diallylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-di(n-octyl)imidazolium borohydride and 1,3-di(n-butyl)imidazolium borohydride.

10. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein said ionic liquid itself has a reducing action relative to said explosive or contains a reducing agent reducing the explosive.

11. The odor sample according to claim 10, wherein said reducing agent is a sugar, a sulphite, dithionite, thiosulphate, hydrazine, borane, phosphine, a hydride, a metal hydride, zinc, magnesium, a siloxane or a silane.

12. The odor sample according to claim 11, wherein said sugar is glucose, fructose, galactose, maltose or lactose and said metal hydride is lithium aluminum hydride or borohydride.

13. The odor sample according to claim 10, wherein said ionic liquid which itself has a reducing action relative to the explosive is a thiocyanate or a borohydride.

14. The odor sample according to claim 13, wherein said thiocyanate is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate.

15. The odor sample according to claim 13, wherein said borohydride is N-methylpyrrolidine-zinc borohydride, 1-allyl-3-n-butylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-diallylimidazolium borohydride, 1,3-di(n-octyl)imidazolium borohydride or 1,3-di(n-butyl)imidazolium borohydride.

16. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein the explosive is present in a concentration of not more than 20% by weight, not more than 15% by weight, not more than 12.5% by weight or not more than 10% by weight in the ionic liquid.

17. The odor sample according to claim 1, wherein the explosive is present in a concentration of at least 1% by weight, at least 2.5% by weight, at least 5% by weight, at least 7.5% by weight or at least 9% by weight in the ionic liquid.

18. A process for producing an odor sample for explosives detection dogs, the process comprising dissolving a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid.

19. A process for using an odor sample, the process comprising using a solution of a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid as a scent source for explosives detection dogs.

20. The process according to claim 19, which further comprises using the scent source for test measurements for calibrating detectors.

21. A process for using an odor sample, the process comprising using a solution of a nonperoxidic explosive in an ionic liquid for training explosives detection dogs or other animals suitable for detecting explosive.

22. The process according to claim 21, wherein the other animals are rats.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0038] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structural formulae of examples of ionic liquids;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a 1H-NMR spectrum of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a 1H-NMR spectrum of TNT;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a 1H-NMR spectrum of 10% by weight of TNT in 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium ethylsulphate;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrum of the gas space in an empty flask;

[0043] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrum of the gas space in a flask containing 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate; and

[0044] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrum of the gas space in a flask containing 10% by weight of TNT in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there are seen structural formulae of examples of ionic liquids.

[0046] A 500 ml glass flask which is made of dark glass and can be closed tightly by using a closure having a Teflon seal is provided with a magnetic stirrer bar and charged with 270 g of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate. 30 g of TNT are added carefully a little at a time while stirring. The glass flask is closed by using the closure and stirred for at least 12 hours by using the magnetic stirrer bar and a magnetic stirrer at 350 revolutions per minute until the TNT has completely dissolved in the ionic liquid. The result is a solution containing 10% by weight of TNT.

[0047] A comparison of the 1H-NMR spectra of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulphate according to FIG. 2, TNT according to FIG. 3 and the TNT solution prepared as described above according to FIG. 4 unambiguously shows the presence of TNT in the ionic liquid. The DMSO peak present in the spectra results from contamination of the deuterated DMSO used as solvent for the spectra with undeuterated DMSO.

[0048] It can be seen from a comparison of FIG. 6 with FIG. 5 that the substances detectable in the mass spectrum of the gas phase over the ionic liquid do not differ from the substances which could be detected in the mass spectrum of the gas space in the empty flask. In contrast, the mass spectrum of the gas phase over the ionic liquid containing 10% by weight of TNT, according to FIG. 7, clearly shows the presence of TNT. This shows that the ionic liquid does not have any influence on the substances in the gas phase over the solution of the explosive in the ionic liquid and the explosive in this gas phase is detectable and thus can also be sniffed out by an explosives detection dog.