Polymer-based lanthanide luminescent sensor for detection of the hydrolysis product of the nerve agent Soman in water

The techniques of molecular imprinting and sensitized lanthanide luminescen ce have been combined to create the basis for a sensor that can selectively measure the hydrolysis product of the nerve agent Soman in water. The sens or functions by selectively and reversibly binding the phosphonate hydrolys is product of this agent to a functionality-imprinted copolymer possessing a coordinatively bound luminescent lanthanide ion, Eu3+. Instrumental suppo rt for this device is designed to monitor the appearance of a narrow lumine scence band in the 610-mn region of the Eu3+ spectrum that results when the analyte is coordinated to the copolymer. The ligand held shifted luminesce nce was excited using 1 mW of the 465.8-nm line of an argon ion laser and m onitored via an optical fiber using a miniature spectrometer. For this conf iguration, the limit of detection for the hydrolysis product is 7 parts per trillion (ppt) in solution with a linear range from 10 ppt to 10 ppm. Chem ical and spectroscopic selectivities have been combined to reduce the likel ihood of false positive analyses. Chemically analogous organophosphorus pes ticides tested against the sensor have been shown to not interfere with det ermination.