Portable Methodologies for In-Situ Trace Detection of Explosives and Environmental Toxins
Tomas Torroba, Department of Chemistry, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain
Analytical science has progressed impressively during the last period with new devices capable of performing complex duties in search and detection of important environmental toxins or dangerous compounds such as explosives or nerve agents. Many of these new devices include sophisticated machines that are not easily portable, therefore their scope is limited. During the last years, we have developed fluorescent probes capable of detecting selectively and accurately target analytes with extreme sensitivity. With some of them we have developed mature methodologies targeted at the detection of difficult analytes. Some achievements were performed in the detection and speciation of methylmercury in fish samples by simple titration with fluorescent probes in solution [1] or supported on polymeric surfaces. By anchoring fluorogenic probes to silica nanoparticles or polydimethylsiloxane elastomers, we have developed new chemical sensors for explosives in air [2] or in complex matrices [3]. Non detectable explosives such as traces of triacetone triperoxide in air can now be detected by a simple fluorogenic probe that can work in an autonomous system ready to be used whenever it is required (Figure 1).
Figure 1. TATP detection by an autonomous device.
We have also developed new methodologies to trace the degradation of plastics by means of natural enzymes [4][5], helping to solve the problem of environmental contamination by plastics. The recent achievements of the group in all those areas of research will be presented.
[1] T. Torroba et al., Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 2024, 421, 136492.
[2] T. Torroba et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 32024–32036.
[3] T. Torroba et al., J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chem., 2023, 444, 114911.
[4] T. Torroba, F. Bertocchini et al., Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 5568.
[5] T. Torroba, F. Bertocchini et al., Sci. Adv. 2023, 9, eadi6813.
Tomás Torroba Pérez. Birth: Valladolid, December 21, 1956. Qualification: Doctor of Chemical Sciences from the University of Valladolid in 1982. Thesis Director: Prof. Ángel Alberola Figueroa. Position and Current Position: Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry of the University of Burgos since 1998, full-time dedication. Previous positions: Assistant in the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Valladolid, from 1978 to 1982. Lecturer in the Department of Organic Chemistry in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Extremadura, from 1983 to 1998. Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Burgos from 2000 to 2004. Director of the Organic Chemistry Area of the Chemistry Department of the University of Burgos 1999-2017. Main research topics: Sulfur-Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds, Multicomponent Reactions, Chemical Sensors, Supramolecular Chemistry. Web of Science finds 135 publications, with 3.559 citations, h-index: 31, from them 40 publications in the last ten years, 90% in the first quartile. In the last ten years (2013-2023) the total number of publications is 40 and the number of publications in the first quartile is 90% of the total, with an average of 4 annual publications.