# US 10,119,937 B2 · Method for detecting organophosphorus compounds and illicit drugs

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- Number: US 10,119,937 B2
- Document ID: US10119937B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/211,752
- Filed: 2016-07-15
- Published: 2018-01-18
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-15
- Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute
- Applicants: Battelle Memorial Institute
- Inventors: Robert G. Ewing; Blandina R. Valenzuela; David A. Atkinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119937B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/0047: {Organic compounds}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method is disclosed for detecting organophosphorus compounds and illicit drugs using an ion detector. A vapor sample containing at least one analyte and at least one dopant is ionized. A proton-bound adduct ion is formed between the analyte and the dopant in a reaction region defined between the ionization source and the ion detector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
forming a proton-bound adduct ion between at least one organophosphorus compound (OPC) and at least one secondary or tertiary amine in a reaction region defined between an ionization source and an ion detector; and
detecting the proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine includes a proton affinity greater than the at least one OPC.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine includes a proton affinity between 220 kcal/mol and 250 kcal/mol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one OPC is an analyte and the at least one secondary or tertiary amine is a dopant and detecting the proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector confirms the presence of the at least one OPC.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one OPC is a phosphonate or an organophosphate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the dopant is a dialkylamine, an alkyl-substituted derivative of pyridine, or a trialkylamine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the dialkylamine or the trialkylamine has R groups with between 1 and 12 carbons.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one OPC is detectable at 100 parts-per-quadrillion or better.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine is an illicit drug, and wherein the illicit drug is an analyte and the at least one OPC is a dopant and detecting the proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector confirms the presence of the illicit drug.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one OPC is a phosphonate or an organophosphate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the illicit drug is heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the illicit drug is detectable at 160 parts-per-quadrillion or better.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ion detector is a mass spectrometer or an ion mobility spectrometer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further including ionizing a vapor sample comprising the at least one secondary or tertiary amine and/or the at least one OPC therein with the ionization source, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine has a proton affinity greater than or equal to about 220 kcal/mol.

### Claim 15

A method, comprising:
ionizing a vapor sample with an ionization source, the vapor sample containing at least one organophosphorus compound (OPC) and at least one secondary or tertiary amine;
introducing the ionized vapor sample containing the at least one OPC and at least one secondary or tertiary amine therein into a reaction region defined between the ionization source and an ion detector;
forming at least one proton-bound adduct ion between the at least one OPC and the at least one secondary or tertiary amine therein; and
detecting the at least one proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine has a proton affinity greater than the at least one OPC.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine has a proton affinity between 220 kcal/mol and 250 kcal/mol.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one OPC is an analyte and the at least one secondary or tertiary amine is a dopant and detecting the proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector confirms the presence of the at least one OPC.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the dopant is a dialkylamine, alkyl-substituted derivative of pyridine, or a trialkylamine.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the dialkylamine or the trialkylamine has R groups with between 1 and 12 carbons.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one OPC is detectable at 100 parts-per-quadrillion or better.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine is an illicit drug, and wherein the illicit drug is an analyte and the at least one OPC is a dopant and detecting the proton-bound adduct ion with the ion detector confirms the presence of the illicit drug.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the illicit drug is detectable at or greater than 160 parts-per-quadrillion.

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the ion detector is a mass spectrometer or an ion mobility spectrometer.

### Claim 25 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the dialkylamine is diethylamine, diisopropyl amine, diethylmethyl amine, or combinations thereof, or wherein the trialkylamine is triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, trioctylamine, tridecylamine, tridodecylamine, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the dialkylamine is diethylamine, diisopropyl amine, diethylmethyl amine, or combinations thereof, or wherein the trialkylamine is triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, trioctylamine, tridecylamine, tridodecylamine, or combinations thereof.