Optical sensor based on PFSI membrane comprising associated benzene-1,3-diol for detecting target compounds, and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9921167-B2
Application number	US-201514920942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2008
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

An optical sensor for monitoring an environmental condition, the optical sensor comprising a perfluorosulfonate ionomer membrane comprising a solution, wherein the solution comprises a transition metal-free dye component, wherein exposure of the optical sensor to a specific environmental condition produces a color shift on the optical sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring for presence of a target compound in an environment in gas phase via an optical sensor comprising a solid state perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI) membrane comprising perfluorosulfonic acid functional groups and benzene-1,3-diol immobilized in the membrane within a proximity to the perfluorosulfonic acid functional groups necessary to effectuate acid catalysis of a reaction between the benzene-1,3-diol and the target compound sufficient to produce a detectable color shift on the PFSI membrane when the membrane is exposed to the target compound in gas phase, the method comprising:
exposing the optical sensor to an environment; and
examining the optical sensor for a detectable color shift indicating presence of the target compound.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target compound is selected from the group consisting of trimellitic anhydride, diacetyl, vinyl acetate, 2,3-pentanedione, phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, ionic platinum, glucose, and combinations thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the examining comprises visually inspecting the optical sensor.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the examining comprises analyzing the optical sensor using portable or remote spectroscopic analysis.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring occurs continuously at ambient conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising emitting an alarm when a color shift indicating presence of the target compound is observed.

7. A method of manufacturing a solid state optical sensor for detecting a target compound in gas phase in an environment, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a solution comprising benzene-1,3-diol;
immersing a perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI) membrane in the solution;
permitting the PFSI membrane to absorb the organic compound; and
removing the PFSI membrane from the solution,
wherein the PFSI membrane comprising the absorbed benzene-1,3-diol comprises a solid state optical sensor that produces an irreversible and detectable color shift upon exposure to the target compound in gas phase.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein preparing a solution comprises dissolving the benzene-1,3-diol in alcohol.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein preparing the solution comprises dissolving 0.12 grams of benzene-1,3-diol in 12.5 ml ethanol.

10. An optical sensor for detecting a target compound present in an environment in gas phase, the optical sensor comprising:
a solid state perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI) membrane comprising perfluorosulfonic acid functional groups; and
benzene-1,3-diol immobilized in the membrane within a proximity to the perfluorosulfonic acid functional groups necessary to effectuate acid catalysis of a reaction between the benzene-1,3-diol and the target compound sufficient to produce a detectable color shift on the PFSI membrane when the membrane is exposed to the target compound in gas phase.

Assignees

• Univ Cincinnati

Inventors

• Angelopoulos Anastasios
• M Ayyadurai Subasri
• Bernstein Jonathan A
• Kanter Daniel S

Classifications

• G01N2021/757

  using immobilised reagents · CPC title

• G01N31/22

  using chemical indicators (G01N31/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2021/775

  Indicator and selective membrane · CPC title

• G01N21/78 Primary

  producing a change of colour · CPC title