Preconcentrator device
AssigneeQinetiq Limited
InventorsDavid J. Combes, Timothy I Cox, Ian C Sage
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Abstract
Improved preconcentrators, particularly MEMs scale preconcentrators which possess a coating comprising polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). There is further provided devices comprising the preconcentrator, and methods of preparation and use. There is particular benefit directed to the use of a MEMs scale heater coated with the PIMs for use in hand-held or field portable chemical detection devices. The polymer of intrinsic microporosity comprises a polymer, with a monomer repeat unit of Formula I wherein A is one or more optionally substituted aryl, heterocyclic, cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl rings, π is greater than 5, preferably 5 to 10000, and X may be selected from CH, CH2, O, S, N or NH.
Claims16
A method of detecting an organic aromatic compound comprising one or more nitro or nitro ester groups as analyte comprising the steps of
- i) placing a device comprising a sampling platform for reversibly adsorbing the analyte, said sampling platform comprising an element which has deposited thereon at least one polymer of intrinsic microporosity and a heater to heat said polymer of intrinsic microporosity in the path of an inlet gas flow to allow adsorption of the target analyte to occur,
- ii) causing an increase in temperature of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity, to desorb said analyte, and
- iii) detecting the target analyte in a detector.
A method of detecting an organic analyte comprising the steps of
- i) placing a device comprising a sampling platform for reversibly adsorbing an organic analyte, said sampling platform comprising an element which has deposited thereon at least one polymer of intrinsic microporosity and a heater to heat said polymer of intrinsic microporosity in the path of an inlet gas flow to allow adsorption of the target analyte to occur
- ii) causing an increase in temperature of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity, to desorb said analyte, and
- iii) detecting the target analyte in a detector,
- wherein the analyte is nitrotoluene, dinitrotouluene or trinitrotoluene.
A method of detecting a compound which possesses a molecular quadrupole moment and one or more nitro or nitro ester groups as analyte comprising the steps of
- i) placing a device comprising a sampling platform for reversibly adsorbing the analyte, said sampling platform comprising an element which has deposited thereon at least one polymer of intrinsic microporosity and a heater to heat said polymer of intrinsic microporosity in the path of an inlet gas flow to allow adsorption of the target analyte to occur,
- ii) causing an increase in temperature of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity, to desorb said analyte, and
- iii) detecting the target analyte in a detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.