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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
14:16
Fluorescence detection methods for microfluidic droplet platforms
Published on: December 10, 2011
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Trace explosive detection based on fluorescence sensing and similarity measures for time series classification
Weize Shi1, Yabin Wang2, Piaotong Liu3
1School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.
Scientific Reports
|July 4, 2025
Summary
A novel fluorescence sensor effectively detects trace 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosives with high sensitivity and rapid response. This system offers specific, repeatable detection, crucial for security applications.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Nitro compounds, particularly 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), are prevalent explosives.
- Rapid and convenient detection of trace TNT is vital for security and preventing explosive threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and investigate a fluorescence sensor system for detecting trace amounts of TNT.
- To evaluate the system's performance with TNT acetone solutions and common chemical reagents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a fluorescence sensor and a trace explosive detection system.
- Conducted experiments on varying TNT concentrations, common reagents, injection parameters, and UV irradiation.
- Applied time series similarity measures (Pearson, Spearman, DTW, DDTW) for result classification.
Main Results:
- Achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 ng/μL for TNT in acetone solution.
- Demonstrated a rapid response time of less than 5 seconds.
- Confirmed sensor specificity, reversibility, and repeatability with recovery in under 1 minute.
Conclusions:
- The developed fluorescence sensor system offers sensitive and rapid detection of TNT.
- Integrating Spearman correlation coefficient and DDTW distance effectively classifies detection results.
- The system shows promise for practical explosive threat detection applications.
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