Fluorescent Polymer Sensor Array for Detection and Discrimination of Explosives in Water

摘要

A fluorescent polymer sensor array (FPSA) was madenfrom commercially available fluorescent polymers coatednonto glass beads and was tested to assess the ability ofnthe array to discriminate between different analytes innaqueous solution. The array was challenged with exposuresnto 17 different analytes, including the explosivesntrinitrotoluene (TNT), tetryl, and RDX, various explosiverelatedncompounds (ERCs), and nonexplosive electronwithdrawingncompounds (EWCs). The array exhibited annatural selectivity toward EWCs, while the non-electronwithdrawingnexplosive 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazinen(RDX) produced no response. Response signaturesnwere visualized by principal component analysis (PCA),nand classified by linear discriminant analysis (LDA). RDXnproduced the same response signature as the samplednblanks and was classified accordingly. The array exhibitednexcellent discrimination toward all other compounds, withnthe exception of the isomers of nitrotoluene and aminodinitrotoluene.nOf particular note was the ability of thenarray to discriminate between the three isomers of dinitrobenzene.nThe natural selectivity of the FPSA towardnEWCs, plus the ability of the FPSA to discriminatenbetween different EWCs, could be used to design a sensornwith a low false alarm rate and an excellent ability tondiscriminate between explosives and explosive-relatedncompounds.