Differential detection of enantiomeric gaseous analytes using carbon black-chiral polymer composite, chemically sensitive resistors

Carbon black-chiral polymer composites were used to provide diagnostic differential resistance responses in the presence of enantiomers of chiral gaseous analytes. Vapors of (+)-2-butanol and (-)-2-butanol, (+)-alpha-pinene and (-)-alpha-pinene, (+)-epichlorohydrin and (-)-epichlorohydrin, and methyl (+)-2-chloropropionate and methyl (-)-2-chloropropionate were generated and passed over a chemically sensitive carbon black-poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-((R)-3-hydroxyvalerate)) (77% butyrate) composite resistor. Each enantiomer of a pair produced a distinct relative differential resistance change on the chiral detector, whereas both enantiomers of a set produced identical signals on achiral carbon black-poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (82% ethylene) detectors.