toggle visibility
Search within Results:
Display Options:

Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print
  Record Links
Author Van Echelpoel, R. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Making an impact with voltammetric illicit drug sensors : bridging the gap between fundamental lab research and on-site application Type Doctoral thesis
  Year (down) 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xxviii, 194 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract Illicit drugs are harmful substances, posing a threat to the health and safety of society. Policies, such as supply reduction and harm reduction, are in place to combat the illicit drug problem. Science can play a substantial role in this fight, by providing tools that enable these policies to be successfully enforced. One example are on-site detection tools, i.e. sensors that allow the on-site identification of an illicit drug in a sample of interest. Several technologies, such as color tests and portable spectroscopic techniques, are currently employed for this goal. Although these are valuable techniques, there is an opportunity for voltammetry, an electrochemical technique, to make an impactful addition to this repertoire of on-site detection tools. Despite its attractive features (low-cost, portable, short analysis time, indifference to color,...), voltammetric illicit drug sensor have failed to make an impact in real scenarios. The work outlined in this PhD thesis aims to change this by bringing the technology from the lab to the field. Strategic choices, fueled by feedback from end-users, were made to further develop those specific aspects of the technology that previously haltered the technology to fulfill its potential. A detection algorithm was introduced that converts the voltammetric output into a clear-cut interpretation thereof, opening up the technology to end-users without prior knowledge of the technology. A sensor that allows qualitative and quantitative detection of the psychoactive drug MDMA was introduced, and importantly, validated on a large set of 212 confiscated samples. A state-of-the art mobile application and adequate sampling methodology were developed, alongside other, often more practical studies and product developments, to evolve the technology into a product that truly creates value for end-users. Important steps towards multidrug detection were made with a festival sensor and a flowchart based on visual appearance that ties together a variety of voltammetric single sensors into a single multidrug sensing approach. Last but not least, multiple valorization aspects were researched, including a market study and an analysis to determine the optimal commercialization strategy. Overall, this PhD thesis has facilitated the transition of the voltammetric illicit drug sensing technology from lab to on-site application. The final application creates value for end-users, and is ready to make an impact in real on-site scenarios.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 987-90-5728-534-7 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200601 Serial 9055  
Permanent link to this record
Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print

Save Citations:
Export Records: