Magnetic materials for sensing and decontaminating toxic chemicals
Inventors
Soliz, Jennifer R • Karwacki, Christopher J
Assignees
United States Department of the Army • Government of the United States of America
Publication Number
US-9770703-B1
Publication Date
2017-09-26
Expiration Date
2036-06-10
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Abstract
A method and composition of matter for detecting and decontaminating hazardous chemicals, the composition of matter including: a magnetic material for any of chemisorbing, molecularly dissociating, or decomposing a hazardous chemical, wherein the magnetic material changes its magnetic moment upon any of chemisorption, decomposition, and molecular dissociation of the hazardous chemical and the change in magnetic moment is used to detect the presence of the hazardous chemical, and wherein the hazardous chemical includes any of toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents, and chemical warfare agent related compounds.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a composition of matter and a method for detecting and decontaminating hazardous chemicals using magnetic materials that chemisorb, molecularly dissociate, or decompose these chemicals. The magnetic materials change their magnetic moment upon interaction with hazardous chemicals, and this change is used to detect their presence. Materials such as Fe2O3 polymorphs, LnFe2O4 compounds, and various metal salt compounds are utilized. The change in magnetic moment stems from a change in a cation valency within the magnetic material induced by chemisorption, molecular dissociation, or decomposition of the hazardous chemical.
The hazardous chemicals addressed include toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents, and chemical warfare agent related compounds such as G, V, and H class agents and their structural analogs. The magnetic materials provide multifunctional sensing capabilities, including spectral changes detected by infrared, UV-Vis, Raman, and impedance spectroscopies. This multifunctional detection allows both sensing and decontamination of hazardous chemicals by coupling magnetic moment changes with spectral signals.
The problem solved is the need for effective materials and devices capable of both detecting and decontaminating hazardous chemicals, including chemical warfare agents and related toxic compounds. Conventional methods do not sufficiently provide a unified multifunctional approach integrating magnetic sensing changes with spectral detection. The invention addresses this by using transition metal oxides and lanthanide-containing ferrite compounds which are chemically stable, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and exhibit sensitivity to a wide range of hazardous chemicals.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims cover a method and composition of matter for detecting and decontaminating hazardous chemicals using magnetic materials with specific features and materials.
Method of detecting and decontaminating hazardous chemicals using magnetic materials
A method comprising providing a magnetic material, exposing it to a hazardous chemical, and detecting the hazardous chemical by a change in the magnetic moment of the magnetic material resulting from a cation valency change associated with chemisorption, decomposition, or molecular dissociation of the hazardous chemical.
Detection by spectral changes alongside magnetic moment changes
Detection further comprising the use of changes in IR spectra, UV-Vis spectra, Raman spectra, and impedance spectra of the magnetic material upon chemisorption, decomposition, or molecular dissociation, with the impedance change resulting from electronic property changes in the material.
Use of specified hazardous chemicals and chemical warfare agents
The hazardous chemicals encompass chemical warfare agents, chemical warfare agent related compounds, and toxic industrial chemicals, including G, V, and H class agents and specific chemicals like sulfur mustard (HD), VX, VE, VG, VM, VR, tabun (GA), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), sarin (GB), and structural analogs such as 2-CEES, 2-CEMS, DMMP, DMCP, DIMP, MDCP, and others.
Magnetic materials comprising specific compounds
The magnetic material comprises Fe2O3 polymorphs, LnFe2O4 compounds (with Ln selected from Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Tb or particularly TmFe2O4), or metal salt compounds that chemisorb, decompose, or dissociate hazardous chemicals.
Metal salt compounds with defined cations and anions
Metal salt compounds comprising cations such as iron I-IV, manganese II-IV, cobalt II-III, nickel II-III, copper I-II, and anions such as oxide, chloride, sulfide, sulfate, sulfite, fluoride, nitride, nitrate, oxynitride, and oxyfluoride, including hydroxides and mixed lanthanide iron oxides.
Integration into wearable chemical sensors
The magnetic material can be integrated into wearable chemical sensors for detecting hazardous chemicals.
The claims broadly cover the use of magnetic materials with cation valency changes for sensing and decontaminating hazardous chemicals by detecting magnetic moment changes and spectral changes, specific compound formulations for magnetic materials, and applications including wearable sensors.
Stated Advantages
Magnetic materials like Fe2O3 and LnFe2O4 are cost effective, chemically stable, and environmentally friendly.
The composition provides multifunctional detection capabilities combining magnetic sensing with spectral techniques (IR, UV-Vis, Raman, impedance) for comprehensive hazardous chemical sensing.
The materials can both detect and decontaminate hazardous chemicals, enabling multifunctional use.
Certain magnetic materials exhibit a colorimetric response upon chemisorption enabling self-indicating applications.
The materials can be fabricated into devices, including wearable chemical sensors, and can be integrated into various forms such as wipes, sprayable slurry, and on fabric.
The magnetic materials can potentially be recycled by removing bound chemicals and demagnetizing, thus extending their useful life.
Documented Applications
Sensing the presence of chemical warfare agents (CWA), including G, V, and H agents, and related analogs.
Decontaminating chemical warfare agent structural analogs and related compounds.
Use as hazardous chemical sensors or devices, including multifunctional devices that combine magnetic and spectral detection.
Wearable chemical sensors integrated on fabrics for personal protection.
Magnetic residual life indicators or end-of-service life indicators for hazardous chemical detection.
Use in fielded drones configured to detect hazardous chemicals.
Decontaminant wipes and sprayable slurry formulations for chemical decontamination.
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