Patent ID: 8377713

Claim:
A method for detecting one or more trace explosives comprising: applying at least one of a conversion reagent that oxidizes in the presence of peroxide explosives and in the presence of inorganic nitrate explosives to produce a quenching agent and a phase transfer reagent that increases solubility of inorganic nitrates in an organic solvent to a sample substrate that may include explosive residue; applying a test reagent to the sample substrate, wherein said test reagent contains an organic solvent and a luminescent compound which, upon excitation, undergoes a change in luminescence in the presence of any one or more of nitroaromatic-, nitramine-,nitrate ester-, inorganic nitrate-, chlorate-, perchlorate-, bromate-, peroxide-, smokeless powder- or black powder-based explosives; exciting the luminescent compound to cause luminescence; and determining whether traces of any one or more of the explosives are present on the sample substrate based on a quenching, brightening or a shift in wavelength of the luminescence.