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, (+)-α-pinene and (−)-α-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.