This article presents a novel electrochemical cell to capture and analyze solid and liquid fentanyl aerosols, demonstrating the use of a suspended hydrophobic ionic liquid that collects aerosolized fentanyl; the authors suggest that this technique may be useful for first responders that collect unknown substances, provide aid to overdose victims, and others who may otherwise come into contact with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that is commonly laced into other drugs. Fentanyl poses a danger to users but also to responders or bystanders who may unknowingly ingest a lethal dose (∼2 mg) of fentanyl from aerosolized powder or vapor. Electrochemistry offers a small, simple, and affordable platform for the direct detection of illicit substances; however, it is largely limited to solution-phase measurements. Here, the authors demonstrate the hands-free capture and electroanalyzation of aerosols containing fentanyl. A novel electrochemical cell is constructed by a microwire (cylindrical working electrode) traversing an ionic liquid film that is suspended within a conductive loop (reference/counter electrode). The authors provide a quantitative finite element simulation of the resulting electrochemical system. The suspended film maintains a high-surface area:volume, allowing the electrochemical cell to act as an effective aerosol collector. The low vapor pressure (negligible evaporation) of ionic liquid makes it a robust candidate for in-field applications, and the use of a hydrophobic ionic liquid allows for the extraction of fentanyl from solids and sprayed aqueous aerosols. (Published Abstract Provided)