METHOD OF REVEALING LIFE-HAZARD SUBSTANCES Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: investigation of materials. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to examining or analyzing materials by way of determining their physical and chemical properties using optical means, in particular, using methods of aerosol particles registration that may be applied for a wide area of substances representing danger for human life, in particular, explosives. In a method involving sampling of impurities of ambient air, impurities are first converted into molecular condensation nuclei and supersaturated vapor of other substances condensing on nuclei is then created by way of mixing various-temperature streams. Concentration of formed aerosol is measured. Hazardous test substances, e.g. explosives, are labeled by low volatile material selected in conformance with required label activity duration. Such low volatile substances as those of ferrocene- type or organosilicon compounds are, in particular, used. Once sampling of impurities of ambient air is completed, selected impurities are separated in wide-channel capillary quartz chromatographic column with stationary phase, which is non-polar methylsilicone elastomer. Velocity of movement of gas carrier in column is 1-30 cu. cm/min at 60-100 C. From aerosol concentration measurement data obtained for aerosol formed from molecular condensation nuclei of ferrocene or organosilicon compounds, one can judge if hazardous substances are present. EFFECT: improved reliability of revealing hazardous substances.