title: Amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide vapor for security screening.
abstract: Rapid detection of the hydrogen peroxide precursor of peroxide explosives is required in numerous security screening applications. We describe a highly sensitive and selective amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor at an agarose-coated Prussian-blue (PB) modified thick-film carbon transducer. The sensor responds rapidly and reversibly to dynamic changes in the level of the peroxide vapor, with no apparent carry over and with a detection limit of 6 ppbv. The remarkable selectivity of the PB-based screen-printed electrode towards hydrogen peroxide leads to effective discrimination against common beverage samples. For example, blind tests have demonstrated the ability to selectively and non-invasively identify concealed hydrogen peroxide in drinking cups and bottles. The attractive performance of the new microfabricated PB-based amperometric peroxide vapor sensor indicates great potential for addressing a wide range of security screening and surveillance applications.
authors.affiliation: The Biodesign Institute and Department of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5801, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benedet
authors.forename: Donglai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cizek
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: La Belle
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D005295:Ferrocyanides; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012685:Sepharose; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents; D005295:Ferrocyanides; D012685:Sepharose; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C000170:ferric ferrocyanide