[RNB (OP)]

Gentlemen:

     For the ink described in newbielink:http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/530/ [nonactive]

Oxygen Sensitive Dye To Detect Unsafe Food             
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde have developed an oxygen-sensitive ink that to warn you that food packaging is leaky. Food is normally packaged in a protective oxygen-free atmosphere containing nitrogen or carbon dioxide which helps to keep the food fresh. The new ink, which is colourless, turns blue when it comes into contact with oxygen. So a blue spot on the inside of the food packaging would alert you that the packet is leaky. The new ink consists of a dye called methylene blue, and nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. When the dye is activated with ultraviolet light it becomes colourless, but when it comes into contact with oxygen, it goes blue again.

30th Nov 2003

Has anyone quantified the kinetics of the oxygen methylene blue reaction? Could the reaction conceivably be used to develop a sensor that would find utility in preventing the dangerous deterioration of pharmaceuticals or foodstuffs?
 

Best Regards,
Bob Beauchamp
Technical Sales Agent/Chemist

JMD Manufacturing Inc.,
59 Fountain St.
Framingham, MA 01702 (USA)
Tel: (508) 620-6563
Fax.: (508) 620-7563
newbielink:http://www.jmdmfg.com [nonactive]
bob@jmdmfg.com

[kmiller755]

the methylene dye and titanium nanoparticle mix seems to detect only presence of oxygen.  how would you harness it to detect deterioration of a pharmaceutical? each pharmaceutical decays with its own particular pattern of byproducts.  perhaps if the pharmaceutical produces oxygen in its deterioration?  the answer seems heavily chemical-dependent whether or not this is a good chemical sensor of deterioration.