Multifunctional sol-gel detector for gaseous compounds and detection and trapping methods therewith

A process for detecting gaseous compounds or a mixture of gaseous compounds contained in a liquid or gaseous sample comprising:

• exposing a sample comprising gaseous compounds or mixtures of gaseous compounds selected from NH2Cl;
• NHCl2;
• NCl3;
• total chlorine;
• NOn, where n=1 or 2;
• O3;
• and X2 where X=Cl, Br or I to a multifunctional detector said detector comprising a first sensor consisting of i) a block of sol-gel material that absorbs in the UV but not in the visible ii) an iodide and iii) a reactive compound selected from starch, amylose, amylopectin, xyloglucan, xylane, chitosan, glycogen, polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol compound, cellulose or a cellulose compound, α-cyclodextrin, theobromine and block polymers of polypropylene oxides and polyethylene oxides, wherein the iodide and the reactive compound are incorporated into the block of sol-gel material, and
• observing any color change of the block of sol-gel material constituting the first sensor.

A sol-gel sensor that absorbs in the UV but not in the visible produced by a process consisting of:

• (a) dissolving in an aqueous solution a reactive compound selected from starch, amylose, amylopectin, xyloglucan, xylane, chitosan, glycogen, polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol compound, cellulose or a cellulose compound, α-cyclodextrin, theobromine and block polymers of polypropylene oxides and polyethylene oxides;
• (b) homogenizing the aqueous solution and reactive compound solution of (a);
• (C) boiling the homogenized solution of (b), and then cooling the boiled solution to ambient temperature
• (d) adding an alkoxide of formula M(OR)n where M is a metal and R is an alkyl group;
• (e) adding sodium iodide in solid form;
• (f) stirring the sol material from (e) in the dark and at ambient temperature;
• and
• (g) optionally shaping the sol material from (f) in a desired form.

A sol-gel sensor that absorbs in the UV but not in the visible produced by a process consisting of:

• (a) dissolving phenol, sodium nitroprussiate, and sodium hydroxide in an aqueous solution comprising water and methanol;
• (b) stirring the solution from (a);
• (c) cooling the solution and adding an alkoxide of formula M(OR), where M is a e and R is an alkyl group to form a sol material;
• and
• (d) optionally shaping the sol material from (c) in a desired form.