Membrane for In situ Optical Detection of Organic Nitro Compounds Based on Fluorescence Quenching.

摘要

In the past, unsound explosive disposal practices have led to contamination of various sites by nitrated organics. Because these compounds partition significantly into water from soils, they can migrate in ground-water posing a potential health hazard. Groundwater monitoring for several different nitrated organics is required to evaluate the extent of this problem. Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinoto-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 2,4,6-trinitrotluene (TNT) are two most important because they are manufactured and used in larger quantities than other explosives. RDX is of greater concern because it is stable and migrates more rapidly in groundwater. Current practice is to get samples from monitoring wells and to bring them back to the laboratory for analysis. This is expensive and subject to potential error owing to contamination or instability of samples. As a consequence, there is a need for rapid, inexpensive screening methods that function in situ. Even if these methods do not yield definitive analytical results, they will be useful if they identify those samples that need to be brought back to the laboratory for comprehensive analysis. Our goal has been to develop solid phase indicators that can be used for in-situ determination of nitrated organics.