Biomimetic sensor that simulates human response to airborne toxins
AssigneeThe Quantum Group, Inc.
InventorMark K. Goldstein
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a biomimetic sensor for detecting the presence of airborne toxins, such as carbon monoxide, mercury, ethylene oxide, volatile organic materials, and hydrogen sulfide. The biomimetic sensor, which has a functional life of at least one year, comprises a porous, semi-transparent substrate into which is impregnated a self-regenerating chemical sensor reagent. The response of the biomimetic sensor mimics the human response to such toxins, with respect to sensitivity and affinity. The extended functional lifetime of the biomimetic sensor and the mimicking of the human response to the toxins are achieved by the use of a molecular encapsulant that encapsulates at least one component of the chemical sensor reagent.
Claims24
A biomimetic sensor for detecting the presence of airborne toxins comprising:
- a porous, semi-transparent substrate that is transmissive to light;
- means for detecting light transmitted through the substrate;
- a self-regenerating chemical sensor reagent for detecting airborne toxins, wherein the self-regenerating chemical sensor is able to regenerate itself for a period of at least one year at ambient conditions;
- and
- a molecular encapsulant encapsulating at least one component, but not all the components, of the chemical sensor reagent.
A self-regenerating biomimetic chemical sensor system comprising:
- a porous, semi-transparent substrate that is transmissive to light;
- means for detecting the light transmitted through the substrate;
- a self-regenerating chemical sensor reagent for detecting airborne toxins;
- and
- means for extending the lifetime of the chemical sensor system, so that it will self-regenerate for at least one year at ambient conditions, by encapsulating at least one component, but not all the components, of the chemical sensor reagent in a molecular encapsulant.
A method of biomimetically detecting airborne toxins comprising:
- immersing a porous, semi-transparent substrate in a chemical reagent system comprising at least one compound from each of the following groups:
- Group 1:
- Palladium salts selected from the group consisting of palladium sulfate, palladium sulfite, palladium pyrosulfite, palladium chloride, palladium bromide, palladium iodide, palladium perchlorate, CaPdCl.sub.4, Na.sub.2 PdCl.sub.4 and K.sub.2 PdCl.sub.4 ;
- Group 2:
- Molybdenum or tungsten salts selected from the group consisting of silicomolybdic acid, salts of silicomolybdic acid, molybdenum trioxide, hetropolyacids of molybdenum, ammonium molybdate, alkali metal, or alkaline earth salts of the molybdate anion or heteropolytungstenates;
- Group 3:
- Copper salts selected from the group consisting of copper sulfate, copper chloride, copper bromide, copper iodide, and copper perchlorate;
- Group 4:
- Molecular encapsulants that encapsulate at least one but not all components of the chemical reagent system, selected from the group consisting of a .alpha.-cyclodextrin, .beta.-cyclodextrin, modified .beta.-cyclodextrin and .gamma.-cyclodextrin;
- and
- Group 5:
- Soluble chloride ions selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, sodium chloride, lithium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, calcium perchlorate, aluminum perchlorate, platinum chloride, inorganic acids, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and cobalt chloride;
- drying the substrate impregnated with the chemical sensor reagent to form a chemical sensor system;
- exposing the chemical sensor system to airborne toxins;
- and
- evaluating the change in the optical density of the chemical sensor system for sensing airborne toxins.
An improved biomimetic chemical sensor system having a chemical sensor reagent impregnated into a porous, semi-transparent substrate, the improvement comprising a molecular encapsulant that encapsulates at least one component but not all components of the chemical sensor reagent so that the chemical sensor system will self-regenerate for at least one year at ambient temperatures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.