MXPA06001304A

MXPA06001304A - Dye solution and method for detecting anhydrous ammonia

Info

Publication number: MXPA06001304A
Application number: MXPA/A/2006/001304A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Tim Bickett; Frank Eiter
Original assignee: Tim Bickett; Frank Eiter
Priority date: 2003-08-01
Filing date: 2006-02-01
Publication date: 2007-04-10

Abstract

Systems and methods providing for the introduction of a dye, particularly a xanthene dye, and more particularly a rhodamine dye, to liquid anhydrous ammonia to discourage theft of the anhydrous ammonia and provide for leak detection in storage vessels. The dye will stain objects which come into contact with the liquid anhydrous ammonia allowing for the detection of such contact. Generally, the staining will be visible to the naked eye, but may also fluoresce when exposed to a particular light source such as ultra violet (UV) light.

Description

COLORING SOLUTION AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AMMONIA ANHYDRO FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to additives for anhydrous ammonia as well as to systems and methods for using additives for anhydrous ammonia to detect the pre-evaporation of the anhydrous ammonia. This detection can indicate leaks in anhydrous ammonia storage vessels and can detect and inhibit the illegal production of methamphetamines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use and production of ethafeta inas is an illegal activity that impacts many aspects of American society. Known in the streets as "speed", "meth", "gis", "ice", "crystal", "crack" or "glass", methamphetamines have become a substantial drug problem in most of the United States in both rural and urban areas. While the use of methamphetamine was traditionally associated with working class workers, male and white, the drug is seeing increasing use among adolescents and other young adults. In a national survey conducted in 2000, it was believed that an estimated 8.8 million people or 4 percent of the population of the United States tested methamphetamines. The drug, which is a powerful stimulant made up of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, is recognized as the cause of powerful stimulating precipitation, as well as a pleasant lift with a relatively short duration. It is believed that the elevation is caused by the release of very high levels of dopamine in the brain stimulated by the drug. Physically, the drug is usually in the form of either a crystalline, odorless, white powder or a clear crystal. The drug dissolves easily in alcohol and water and can be taken through virtually any means including injection, inhalation, ingestion and smoking. While methamphetamine users are generally perceiving a desirable elevation, the use of methamphetamines also has negative toxic effects on the body. An individual dose can damage the nerve terminals in the brain. High doses can also raise body temperature to dangerous levels, sometimes lethal, as well as cause seizures. The drug can be addictive causing addicts to deprive themselves of sleep and food in search of an elevation. This addictive behavior can also lead to an increase in criminal behavior by the addict to obtain the resources to support the addiction. Chronic abuse can also lead directly to psychotic behavior that includes intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and out-of-control anger that can be coupled with extremely violent behavior. Longer-term damage can also include hardening of the cerebral arteries, mini-strokes and mental disabilities, as well as deterioration of the bodily organs. The production of methamphetamines is also a significant problem for the American public. The production itself is very dangerous as it involves numerous volatile chemicals, such as lighter fluid, ammonia, chlorine gas and others in production "laboratories" within homes, vehicles, abandoned buildings and rural structures. These laboratories explode or burn regularly causing property damage and being the potential cause of injury or death. Even if security forces have reason to suspect that a person or location is involved in the production of methamphetamines, they may still have problems locating a laboratory or providing a connection since the materials may be discarded or hidden leaving little trace , if there is one, of the previous production.

In addition, a high percentage of methamphetamine production is carried out by individual users for their own personal use and is carried out in small laboratories. Traffickers or those who manufacture large quantities of methamphetamine are generally more sophisticated and will often establish "laboratories in more isolated rural areas that are far from others where an explosion can cause environmental damage and eliminate the producer, but often they will not affect others unless they accidentally stumble upon the laboratory while they explore the deserted area. However, personal laboratories can be really more dangerous because they are frequently located in homes, apartments, parking lots or even in business locations and a laboratory explosion or fire can lead to a potentially dangerous situation putting at risk not only the users and their families, but also to neighbors and staff responding to the emergency. In addition, many teenagers or those who experiment in methamphetamine chemistry may not realize the danger. of some fundamental ingredients, which can also lead to a dangerous situation. Many of the chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine are now subject to consumption controls in their acquisition as a means to interrupt their production. Because of this, raw materials are often stolen from legitimate buyers or manufacturers. One of the materials used to produce methamphetamines using a popular chemical procedure in illegal production is anhydrous ammonia, a clear liquid that boils (turning into ammonia gas) at -33.4 ° C (-28 ° F) without a trace. Anhydrous ammonia is regularly used by farmers as a fertilizer when injected into the fields in a liquid, pressurized form to improve agricultural production. Therefore, as many fertilizer farmers and merchants need to store and possess large amounts of anhydrous ammonia for this use, plantations, as well as fertilizer traders, anhydrous ammonia transporters and anhydrous ammonia converters, have become targets. for those who want to steal the chemical for the production of methamphetamines. In addition to the economic impact of this theft, farmers, fertilizer traders, transporters, law enforcement agencies and emergency responders can also be injured or eliminated by those attempting to obtain or use the chemical who are desperate for do not obtain the chemical (since the punishments are often very severe). In addition, theft can have environmental impacts since often once the thieves have what they wanted, they simply allow the remaining anhydrous ammonia in a storage tank to evaporate into the atmosphere as a result of not closing a valve or damage done. to the tank during his robbery resulting in a leak. Contact with the skin of anhydrous ammonia can cause rapid tissue damage and inhalation of ammonia gas can lead to increased lung damage and death. Therefore, uncovered dump tanks resulting from a completed burglary may present a major problem for those close to the tanks. In addition, liquid ammonia is not generally transferred by the thief to containers designed to store the anhydrous ammonia. These inappropriate containers can break explosively or leak. Sometimes simply more ammonia anhydrous is stolen than necessary. Then, evaporation can be allowed to occur during transport to dispose of the excess. Because of the chemical and physical properties of methamphetamines and the materials used in the production of methamphetamines, it is often difficult to detect when an individual is either using the drug or producing the drug, unless they are trapped in production, are trapped in a laboratory in operation (or clear indications of a laboratory) or in a currently high state. As production and use are often carried out in secret and with those who will not inform security forces and bodies, it can often be difficult to detect a person involved in the production or use of drugs during the routine activities of forces and bodies. of security. Instead, the discovery may often require the use of investigations that may violate constitutional rights unless the security forces have obtained an appropriate guarantee. However, the security forces and bodies may not be able to obtain the necessary guarantee without having already conducted the prohibited investigation. • In addition, the production of 0.454 kg (one pound) of methamphetamine produces approximately 2.724 kg (six pounds) of toxic waste. The laboratory sites are flooded with toxic waste and the toxic waste is camouflaged, hidden or buried frequently to try to prevent its detection. The cleaning costs for each laboratory are thousands of dollars and are frequently located in all the waste so that cleaning them can be an arduous task. In rural areas, these toxic wastes frequently contaminate soil and water, exposing innocent people who run into these clandestine laboratories and the environment as a whole to risks. An industrial product related to anhydrous ammonia is ammonium nitrate. Each of these chemicals can be made from the other. Ammonium nitrate is also used as a fertilizer and has caused its own problems to law enforcement agencies, particularly since a raw material has been used for the production of explosives. In recent years, ammonium nitrate gained notoriety as a raw material for explosives when it was used to perpetrate a terrorist act against the United States. In addition, methamphetamine producers have recently discovered that the material can be refined in its own production in the ammonia suitable for their needs. When examining the methamphetamine culture and its production as described above, a penetrating element would become clear: those who produce methamphetamines fear being discovered. Laboratories are kept on private property (or in remote areas) where investigations by law enforcement agencies are difficult to conduct and it may be unlikely to uncover the evidence necessary to carry out an arrest. In addition, acts related to obtaining raw materials are often conducted clandestinely using robbery and third parties to carry out smaller, legitimate acquisitions to find an underground market, thriving on needed supplies. In addition, methamphetamine laboratories use numerous products which have other legitimate uses for which a large percentage of buyers use them. Because the raw materials used to produce the methamphetamines are often indistinguishable from those used legitimately, detection of methamphetamine production even after the fact can also be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Due to these and other problems in the field, this document describes systems, compositions and methods to help provide indications of when individuals, buildings, vehicles, containers and other objects have been near or in contact with be methamphetamines or chemical products used in their production, particularly anhydrous ammonia. These systems, compositions and methods avoid the need for invasive investigations and may be useful preferably long after the time when some evidence of the use or production of the drug would otherwise be observable. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting the pre-existing presence of ammonia in the liquid state that includes the steps consisting of introducing a xanthene dye into the ammonia in the liquid state, the dye creating a spot on a material that comes in contact with the ammonia in liquid state with the conversion of some of the ammonia in liquid state from a liquid to a gas; and the detection of the stain. In several alternative embodiments, this method provides a dye of xanthene which is a fluorene, fluorone, pyronine, rhodamine, is rhodamine WT, is fluorescein or is a dye identified within the index range, 45000-46999, of the COLOR INDEX1111 volume 5 , Chemical Classifications, 1976. In one embodiment, the step that consists in detecting the previous presence of ammonia in liquid state is carried out through detection by the human eye without help. In alternative modalities, the stain is colored under illumination with visible light or fluoresces in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light. In one embodiment of this method, the xanthene dye comprises between about 1 to 100 parts per million of ammonia on a weight-to-weight basis. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting the production of a controlled substance which includes the steps consisting of providing a solution of a xanthene dye in a solvent used in the production of the controlled substance, using the solution in the production of the controlled substance, thereby generating the production of by-products that comprise the solution, staining materials in contact with any of the solution, byproducts and the controlled substance and detecting the staining on the materials, this detection is possible even in absence of any or all of the solution, the by-products and the controlled substance. In several alternative embodiments, this method provides a xanthene dye which is a fluorene, fluorone, pyronine, rhodamine, is rhodamine WT, is fluorescein or is a dye identified within the index range, 45000-46999, of the COLOR INDEX ™, volume 5, Chemical Classifications, 1976. In one embodiment, the step that consists in detecting the previous presence of ammonia in liquid state is carried out through detection by the human eye without help. In alternative modalities, the stain is colored under illumination with visible light or fluoresces in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light. In one embodiment of this method, the xanthene dye comprises between about 1 to 100 parts per million of ammonia on a weight-to-weight basis. In additional alternative embodiments, the method for detecting the production of a controlled substance can be performed when the controlled substance is a methamphetamine, as well as when the solvent is ammonia. In a still further embodiment, the method for detecting the production of a controlled substance includes the step of having the xanthene dye survive the production of the controlled substance, thereby staining the controlled substance. In an embodiment of this method with the additional step of having the dye that survives the production of the controlled substance, the method can be performed when the controlled substance is a methamphetamine and additionally when the xanthene dye resides on the surface of the methamphetamine. In the alternative modalities of this methodWhen the controlled substance is methamphetamine, the xanthene dye can not be washed from the surface of the methamphetamine with water, acetone, toluene, petroleum ether or xylenes or the xanthene stain materials that come into contact with the methamphetamine. In one embodiment, the staining of methamphetamine comprises a stain visible to the naked eye. In alternative modalities, the staining of methamphetamine is colored under illumination with visible light or fluoresces in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light. In one embodiment, the present invention is a solution for detecting the pre-existing presence of ammonia in the liquid state comprising anhydrous, liquid ammonia and a rhodamine dye dissolved in the anhydrous, liquid ammonia to form an ammonia solution. In this mode, the rhodamine dye will leave a stain on the materials that were in contact with the ammonia solution by converting some of the ammonia to a gas. In one embodiment of the solution, the spot is of a predetermined color that is visible to the human eye under illumination with visible light. In an alternative mode, the solution is not the default color. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for making possible the detection of the previous presence of ammonia in the liquid state which includes the steps consisting of introducing a dye in the ammonia in liquid state to create a mixture, the dye creates a stain on materials that are in contact with the mixture by the conversion of ammonia from a liquid to a gas and store the ammonia and dye in a pressurized tank. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for discouraging the theft of ammonia in a liquid state that includes the steps that consist of providing ammonia in a liquid state, adding a dye to the ammonia in a liquid state.; and form a solution of ammonia and dye, the solution generates a stain on objects that are in contact with the solution. In this embodiment, the step that consists in forming a solution includes forming a homogeneous mixture. In the alternative modalities, the stain is only detectable with the evaporation of the ammonia from the solution, the solution is visibly different from the ammonia in the liquid state, the ammonia in the liquid state comprises anhydrous ammonia and the dye comprises one of a colored dye, a dye fluorescent, a xanthene dye, a rhodamine dye. In an embodiment wherein the ammonia in the liquid state comprises anhydrous ammonia, the anhydrous ammonia is stored under pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for discouraging the theft of anhydrous ammonia which includes the steps consisting in providing a sealed package of anhydrous ammonia and attaching a label to the sealed container, the label indicating that the anhydrous ammonia includes a dye that it will leave a detectable spot on the objects that are in contact with the anhydrous ammonia but that is not easily visible in the anhydrous ammonia, but where the anhydrous ammonia does not include the indicated dye. In an alternative embodiment, the label indicates that the anhydrous ammonia includes a dye that will stain a controlled substance which is produced using the anhydrous ammonia. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for inhibiting the use of a controlled substance that includes the steps consisting in providing a solution of a dye in a solvent used in the production of the controlled substance, using the solution in the production of the controlled substance, have the production that stains the controlled substance and inhibit the use of the controlled substance due to a decreased desire to use the controlled substance when it is stained in comparison with the controlled substance in the absence of the stain. In one embodiment, the spotted controlled substance is capable of staining materials that are in contact with the stained controlled substance. In a further embodiment, these materials include human skin. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for detecting the pre-existing presence of ammonium nitrate which includes the steps consisting of introducing a xanthene dye onto the surface of the ammonium nitrate, staining the materials that are in contact with the nitrate of ammonium and detect the stain. In a further embodiment, the dye remains in the ammonia produced from ammonium nitrate. In several alternative embodiments, this method provides a xanthene dye which is a fluorene, fluorone, pyronine, rhodamine, is rhodamine WT, is fluorescein or is a dye identified within the index range, 45000-46999, of the COLOR INDEX ™, volume 5, Chemical Classifications, 1976. In one embodiment, the step that consists in detecting the previous presence of ammonium nitrate is carried out through detection by the human eye without assistance. In alternative modalities, the stain is colored under illumination with visible light or fluoresces in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The patent file or application contains at least one color drawing. Copies of this patent publication or patent application with color drawing (s) will be provided by the office with the application and payment of the necessary fees. FIGURE 1 shows an exemplary drawing of a methamphetamine home laboratory with indications of staining on various articles resulting from one embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 2 shows a color photograph of a coffee filter that includes a pink stained methamphetamine to be produced using anhydrous ammonia that includes a rhodamine dye. FIGURE 3 shows a color photograph of a spot under the side of a nurse tank of anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia that includes a rhodamine dye is shown with a leak at the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES This document describes systems and methods, as well as dyes, that can be used with liquid anhydrous ammonia or other products or precursors of ammonia, which provide a detection of the conversion of liquid ammonia to gaseous ammonia. . In this application, the term ammonia will generally refer to compositions that are primarily ammonia (NH3), particularly distinct from a solution of ammonia in water, which is commonly referred to as ammonia. In this application, a solution of ammonia in water or any other liquid will be identified as a solution. The use of the term ammonia in this document includes anhydrous ammonia, particularly liquid anhydrous ammonia, including the industrial product made and sold in a commercial grade on a bulk scale for numerous applications, particularly as an agricultural fertilizer. Commercial grade anhydrous ammonia typically has a water content of less than 0.5%, water being the largest impurity and ammonia is otherwise more than 99.5% pure. The term "liquid ammonia" used in this application refers to ammonia in the liquid state, otherwise referred to as ammonia in the liquid state. Liquid ammonia and gaseous ammonia are generally clear and colorless and the gas has a characteristically pungent odor. The ammonia has a boiling point of -33.4 ° C (-28 ° F) and a freezing point of -77.8 ° C (-107.9 ° F). This means that at ordinary temperatures indoors and out in the open, ammonia is a gas. However, in commercial applications, ammonia is typically stored and transported in specialized containers under pressure, so that when it is at normal temperatures it can be maintained as a liquid. Once the pressure is released, if the temperature is higher than -33.4 ° C (-28 ° F), the liquid ammonia will boil. After the boiling or evaporation of the liquid ammonia from a surface and the dissipation of the resulting gas, the previous presence of the ammonia will not be generally detectable. In general, labeling dyes or indicators that can be placed in liquid ammonia, or precursors or ammonia products, such as, but not limited to, ammonium nitrate, which provide staining of surfaces and other materials that enter in contact with liquid ammonia, or a precursor or ammonia product. As used herein, the term "dye" includes compositions most commonly referred to as colorants or pigments in general. Concerning liquid ammonia, it is generally preferred that this staining becomes apparent after the evaporation or boiling of the liquid ammonia, which converts the liquid to a gas. With respect also to liquid ammonia, it should be recognized that the staining caused by the compositions, systems and methods described herein is particularly useful in the detection of at least two events. A first event is the unintentional release of liquid ammonia due to leaking tanks or similar problems in the legitimate and legal uses of ammonia. A second event is the illegal acquisition and use of liquid anhydrous ammonia, particularly in the production of methamphetamines. Anhydrous ammonia is highly corrosive and therefore toxic. Legitimate users will usually try to avoid exposure to liquid and gas to avoid danger to themselves, others and the environment. For safety reasons, having an indication that the evaporation or boiling of ammonia is occurring or has occurred previously serves the purpose of detecting an unintentional release that needs to be remedied. In addition, indications of an unintentional leak in legitimate use can provide information of a potential danger to personnel responding to emergencies and enable a successful evacuation of an area, if necessary. As the tanks used to store anhydrous ammonia are frequently converted for use in the storage of propane, similar situations may arise with respect to unintentional propane leaks from these tanks. In these situations, as with ammonia, a dye placed on propane can be similarly beneficial. The detection of the evaporation or boiling of liquid ammonia in the second event, the illegal acquisition or use of ammonia, will generally occur because those persons who illegally acquire or use ammonia, typically methamphetamine producers, will generally lack the sophisticated equipment that It is necessary for the handling of liquid anhydrous ammonia or they will lack the experience or patience to use it properly. The thieves, producers of methamphetamines and conspirators with this are exposed in the same way to the evaporation or boiling of ammonia since the ammonia is released from a pressurized storage container during the transfer to a container of the thief and during other uses of the ammonia by a a thief or a conspirator or a producer of methamphetamines, such as in the synthesis of methamphetamines. Detection of this illegal event will generally be possible because dye stains that remain after the boiling or evaporation of ammonia will be found on objects and in locations where ammonia is unlikely to be used legitimately. In a first embodiment, the compositions, systems and methods refer to chemicals, specifically dyes, which can be placed in the ammonia or can be added to (such as spraying on the surface) precursors or ammonia products (such as solid ammonium nitrate) and which are not volatile, so that the dyes will remain in contact with the surfaces during the boiling, evaporation or sublimation of the ammonia, its precursors or products and will stain those surfaces. It is preferable that the dye will stain the objects present during, and the products of, the production, transport, containment or use of ammonia where these result from boiling or uncontrolled evaporation of the ammonia. While a plethora of dyes can be used in the detection of evaporation or boiling of liquid ammonia, it is preferred that the dye has certain characteristics. The dye is preferably soluble in liquid ammonia. The dye preferably does not react with the ammonia so as to degrade the dye or at least its ability to stain. The dye will preferably stain non-porous, porous or semi-porous substances, particularly those used for the storage of ammonia and those used in the production of methamphetamines (for example, plastics, paper, human skin and cloth), as well as those substances that are probably in the environment of a methamphetamine production laboratory, such as wallpaper, carpet, cement, dry wall or wood. Preferably, the dye will also be relatively easy to remove from the skin and other washable surfaces to a degree that could not be readily detected by the naked eye, since the absence of this washability may impede the legal uses of the anhydrous ammonia. However, a preferred dye will be relatively difficult to remove from these materials and surfaces, at levels below the detection limit of other non-invasive detection methods. The preferred dye will also generally be safe with respect to human and animal health, including with respect to exposures such as ingestion and contact with the skin and with respect to the general environment. That is, a preferred dye can be placed safely on the soil when an anhydrous ammonia solution of the dye is used as a fertilizer. It is further preferred that the dye be sufficiently stable to be maintained at operating concentrations in liquid ammonia all the time before evaporation of the ammonia. That is, in a preferred embodiment, the dye can be maintained in liquid ammonia in all forms of storage and transportation devices, including those that are improvised and used for illegal purposes (including modified propane tanks and thermal containers and food grade coolers). ), until the evaporation of the anhydrous ammonia occurs. Additionally, for the reasons described below, the preferred dye will be difficult to remove from the ammonia either before or during the production of methamphetamines, thereby allowing the dye to be carried in the final product of the methamphetamines. Xanthene dyes, particularly rhodamines, have most of these preferred properties. In one embodiment, it is further preferred that the dye be stable or be generated or regenerated during the conversion process of ammonium nitrate to ammonia, such that the dye could be placed on solid ammonium nitrate and remain in any liquid ammonia or gas ammonia derived from that ammonium nitrate. In this mode, when the dye is placed with ammonium nitrate, the dye can also stain objects that come into contact with solid ammonium nitrate. In a preferred embodiment, the selected dye is a xanthene dye such as fluorene or fluorone. The class of xanthene dyes is a well-known class of dyes containing a xanthene backbone, as shown below in structure (1), which can be substituted in numerous positions, replacing the hydrogen atoms indicated by one or more substituents that may be simple (such as an atomic portion) or complex (such as a molecular portion). According to the Society of Dyers and Colourists and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, as published in their work, COLOR INDEX, Volume 5, Chemical Classifications, 1976, the full description of which is incorporated herein by reference, the class of xanthene dyes is covered by color indices 45000-46999 . While the COLOR INDEX document is not exhaustive in the list of xanthene dyes or any other dye of any other kind, it provides a general reference for industri significant dyes in the various classes and therefore also provides a source for definitions of the classes The selected dye is more preferably a pyronine and even more preferably a rhodamine. In alternative modalities, the dye is rhodamine WT (2) (also known as Red Acid 388) or fluorescein (3) (also known as Acid Yellow 73). Both dyes are commonly used as indicator, fluorometric dyes, particularly in waterways, are considered environmentally safe and have strong fluorescent properties when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. However, it should be understood that any xanthene dye could be used in alternative embodiments of the invention, especially those dyes capable of dissolving in anhydrous ammonia in amounts of about 1 to 100 parts per million on a weight-to-weight basis (ppm). / p). In additional embodiments, other dyes used as indicator dyes, fluorometric with strong fluorescent properties (including amino ketones such as Lissamine FF ™ 1) could be used, since they will frequently have similar properties and will operate in a similar manner to xanthene dyes when placed in liquid ammonia. Other types of dyes can also be used, such as, but not limited to, tank dyes, fluorescent dyes, food dyes, laundry dyes or hair dyes, particularly those that are hydrophilic. The dyes, pigments or other materials that provide coloration (included in this document within the definition of dyes) can also be used in alternative modalities, by themselves or in conjunction with other dyes described above. All these dyes will result in indications of the presence or previous presence of liquid ammonia. However, certain dyes, particularly xanthene dyes that do not contain large halogen atoms, are preferred because of their fluorescent properties, resulting in detectability even in very small amounts. In addition, xanthene dyes such as rhodamines are not generally visible in liquid ammonia under illumination with visible light and only express a coloration upon evaporation of the liquid ammonia. While the dyes described above generally provide visual detection when staining the materials in contact, either directly by the coloration of an object or indirectly such as through fluorescence, visual detection by any means is not required. In other embodiments, the fluorescence emission is not visible. Still in additional modalities, dyes or indicators that emit, absorb or reflect other signals such as x-rays, particles, infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) emissions, auditory signals, ultrasonic signals or any other form of detectable signal can be used. alternatively or additionally to detect the presence or previous presence of ammonia, or a precursor or product thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the ammonia is "stained", ie it is provided with the ability to leave behind a stain, simply by intermixing the xanthene dye in the liquid anhydrous ammonia. In a preferred embodiment, the intermixing results in the dissolution of the dye in the liquid ammonia, even when the intermixing is of a dye solution and liquid ammonia which results in the dye remaining in solution. As used herein, dissolution means the creation of a homogeneous mixture either by means of true solvation or by means of another physical mechanism such as the creation of a suspension. On or after dissolution, the liquid ammonia solution is then exposed to objects and materials that will be stained during the evaporation or boiling process. As the ammonia solution boils or evaporates, the staining effect of the dye remains on the surface from which the liquid ammonia is separated. Through the remaining spot, the previous presence of liquid ammonia in that location is detectable. In a preferred embodiment, the dye is added to the liquid ammonia in amounts such that the dye is not visible or is only slightly visible to the human eye when the dye in the ammonia solution is illuminated with light in the visible spectrum (approximately 400). 800 nm).

(It should be noted that lighting with light in the visible spectrum is considered a normal lighting condition since it is provided by sunlight and white electric lights, for example). In an alternative embodiment, the liquid ammonia solution of the dye is obviously colored with a dye that is visible to the human eye under illumination with a light in the visible spectrum. In any case, the ammonia and dye solution can then be used as ammonia would typically be used under circumstances in which a dye in the ammonia was not dissolved. In the additional modalities, the stain that remains after the evaporation or boiling of the ammonia may be visible or not under illumination with visible light, regardless of the coloration of the dye in the ammonia solution. A generally non-visible stain generally eliminates the inconvenience resulting from staining in the legal uses of ammonia. In any case, where the stain is only expressed with evaporation 0 Boiling, hoses, containers and other devices used in the containment of ammonia and in which boiling or evaporation is not expected to occur are not usually stained. When the stain is only expressed with evaporation or boiling, the presence of the stain usually indicates an unintentional or illegal release, the types of release that are generally of interest. The amount of dye that is added to the ammonia can be, in many cases, very small and still produce the effects described above. It is generally preferred that the concentration be between about 1 and 100 ppm w / w of dye in liquid anhydrous ammonia. This concentration results in the dye comprising a very small concentration in the soil for a typical fertilizer application. (In a typical fertilizer application, ammonia is applied in a ratio of approximately one ton per 8.2376 hectares (eight acres) Assuming a uniform application depth of 30.5 centimeters (one foot) and a soil density consisting of 640.7 kilograms per cubic meter (40 pounds per cubic foot), 6,322,1681.7 kilograms (13,939,200 pounds) of soil are treated by one ton of ammonia Assuming a concentration of 10 ppm w / w of the dye in ammonia, the concentration in the soil of the dye is approximately 1.4 parts per billion on a weight-to-weight basis (ppb w / w) These relatively small amounts of the ammonia dye can still result in an impressive staining of materials as described in the Examples section and as shown In fact, small amounts of dye are often actually more effective in staining, particularly fluorescent staining, since as a result of self-arrest, high concentrations of a fluorescent dye may have a reduced fluorescence compared to lower concentrations. For the purposes of the remainder of this description, it will be assumed that a rhodamine dye, particularly rhodamine WT, is used as the dye. However, a person of ordinary experience in the field would understand how the subsequent description could be adapted for use with other dyes that were indicated above. Rhodamine WT is a preferred dye because of its numerous properties that are useful for detecting the presence or pre-presence of ammonia, or precursors or products thereof. Useful properties include that rhodamine WT is visibly colored with a red hue (under illumination with visible light) as well as that it is fluorescent. Rhodamine WT has strong fluorescent properties, generating significant amounts of light in the visible spectrum of a red or pink color with irradiation with ultraviolet light, even for small amounts of the dye. This fluorescent property makes it likely to detect a spot on several surfaces, even for small amounts of the dye, such as quantities that may not be visible even under normal lighting with visible light. Additionally, the dye is not volatile, so it will remain on the stained object under normal conditions of temperature and pressure. A useful, additional property of rhodamine WT is that the liquid ammonia solution of the dye is not, by itself, obviously red or pink in color. Solution dye is not readily apparent under visible light illumination as it does not cause significant discoloration of liquid ammonia, although slight yellowing may be present. Still further, rhodamine WT is commonly used as a water indicator dye. It has been added to the environment by professionals in a rather concentrated form in the past and will continue to be done, indicating in this way a determination as to the level of security rather high of the dye with respect to animal and environmental health. Still further, rhodamine WT incorporates the preferred property that the dye is capable of surviving the production of methamphetamines to stain the resulting drug product. In this way, all facets of the production, transport and use of the drug pose a potential risk of staining, which makes all these activities more likely to be detected. In one embodiment, the spotting by rhodamine ammonia solution WT operates as follows. When the ammonia is converted from a liquid state to a gaseous state (which certainly occurs at temperatures of -33.4 ° C (-28 ° F) and higher under normal pressures), the dye is left behind on the surface of which the Ammonia boiled or evaporated because the dye is not volatile. According to the natural properties of rhodamine WT (mentioned above), the stain will generally be visible as a red spot under the irradiation of both visible and ultraviolet light. In this way, an ammonia solution of rhodamine WT will stain objects exposed to the solution or vapor of the solution (vapor containing a mixture of liquid droplets as well as gaseous ammonia) with the evaporation or boiling of the ammonia. Materials that can be stained in this way include, but are not limited to, papers, clothing, textiles and human skin. The rhodamine WT stain will also be fluorescent in a pink or red color when exposed to ultraviolet light. The staining effect of the ammonia dye solution, as described above, is particularly useful with respect to the legitimate uses of ammonia, particularly when a tank of liquid anhydrous ammonia develops a leak. When this leak occurs in a tank that retains the dye and ammonia solution, the tank and nearby objects will be quickly stained near the point of leakage as the liquid or vapor will be violently ejected from the tank under pressure. In one embodiment, the staining is visible to the naked eye under a typical irradiation of visible light, such as by the sun or electric, white, normal lights. This visibility is particularly preferred since it provides an immediate indication of the danger and allows an emergency response to be initiated immediately if necessary. The spotting provides a quick indication that the tank needs to be repaired. In addition, if a leak occurs in a pipe, tank or any other structure that is used legitimately, the user will have an immediate immediate indication of the leak and may stop the machinery or initiate additional containment measures to prevent death or bodily or environmental damage serious. This detection of unintentional releases is a particularly valuable benefit because the dye can remain in the liquid ammonia at all stages of production and use of ammonia, so that this detention is available at all stages of production, storage and use. It should be noted that the dye is not introduced into an empty tank to try to detect leaks, but is preferably present when there is liquid ammonia in the tank (or other storage or transport device) and therefore can stain the tank if it is develops a leak at any time liquid ammonia is in the tank. That is to say at the same time when a leak from the tank creates a danger for people and the environment. FIGURE 3 shows an image of a leaking valve in a nurse tank of anhydrous ammonia. The white cloud of ammonia gas is observed towards the top valve of the tank, but it would not be easily observed at a distance; however, the two pink lines of a rhodamine dye WT on the white surface of the tank are immediately apparent. In addition to the general detection of the presence or previous presence of ammonia, as described above in particular with respect to the detection of unintentional releases in legitimate uses, the inclusion of a dye in the anhydrous ammonia can serve in many ways to help combat the main social problems related to the production and use of methamphetamines. With respect to people who produce and use methamphetamines and people who traffic in ammonia for illegal purposes, the ammonia dye solution is a substantial help in the identification of these individuals. With respect to the security forces and emergency responders who appear first in a scene where methamphetamine production activities have been taking place, the staining resulting from a dye solution in ammonia is a substantial help in the identification of the dangerous nature of the scene. With regard to taking widespread measures towards the eradication of these social problems, the ammonia dye solution is a substantial deterrent to both the production and use of methamphetamines. In addition, as the theft of anhydrous ammonia and leaks in storage tanks often go together, theft detection can also help prevent further damage from a leak as a result of that theft. The staining effect of the ammonia dye solution can facilitate the identification of methamphetamine producers and users and conspirators with this, both by direct and indirect methods. As described above, the ammonia dye solution will stain materials and surfaces from which the ammonia evaporates. In this way, any use or transport of ammonia has the potential to make contact, particularly on your skin or clothes, with ammonia and be stained when it boils or evaporates. In one embodiment, the dye may also stain the final methamphetamine product, which in turn may stain the person selling the product or the person who uses the product when it comes into contact with it. The spot on the skin of individuals is involved with the production and use of methamphetamine that leads to its direct identification. For this use, it is preferred in a manner that the staining can be observed with the naked eye under typical irradiation with visible light, such as by the sun or electric, white, normal lights. This visibility allows detection by a plethora of parts.

In an indirect sense, the producers and users of methamphetamine and ammonia traffickers will be identified through the effect of staining the ammonia dye solution on different objects and materials of the skin. The staining effect can help identify the presence or previous presence of liquid ammonia and other products used in the illegal production of methamphetamines in vehicles and buildings, and on containers and clothing, as well as other nearby objects. This staining will provide evidence to assist in the identification and prosecution of those involved with methamphetamines since those persons who possess or have the right to use or otherwise be connected to the property that was tainted will be implicated as potential criminals. Depending on the nature of the detection, the presence of a spot may be a sufficient basis to justify a more invasive search, the arrest of a suspect or the confiscation of certain assets, such as for additional testing. For example, a routine traffic stop may allow law enforcement to detect that the driver or occupants were recently exposed to anhydrous ammonia, possibly guaranteeing further investigation of the vehicle or potentially providing sufficient grounds for obtaining an investigation order. of a home. While a spot of visible color would make this detection simple, where the spot was not visible, a fluorescent spot could be detected by shining an ultraviolet light on a suspect. Research by "means of ultraviolet light is a non-invasive procedure that is performed with a fairly common technology which can make these police investigations reasonable." These investigations can allow the security forces and bodies in routine tasks to detect that an individual may have recently had contact with ammonia, anhydrous, ammonium nitrate or methamphetamines, security forces may also shine ultraviolet lights on vehicles or on housing or other locations from a distance to perform other non-invasive investigations. , neighbors, landlords, garbage collectors, service personnel, school officials, club rioters or anyone who also has contact with an individual can see indications of staining from an ammonia dye solution and 'contact the forces and security forces or take another acc In particular, nightclubs occupy a convenient coincidence of locations where methamphetamines can probably be used and there is often a presence of ultraviolet lights for other legitimate uses. Ultraviolet lights are typically used as a method to determine the payment of clients or clients over a particular age (such as the legal age for consumption of alcohol) through its use in combination with a chemical, fluorescent or hand print. They can be used for environmental lighting effects. Under the circumstances of typical use of ultraviolet light in these environments, the owner or a club rioter may detect that an individual may have been in contact with methamphetamines or may have been involved in its production, either at the club or earlier. to enter the club and can alert the security forces or bodies or take other responsible measures. In all these forms, the identification, both direct and indirect, of those involved in the production of methamphetamines becomes more easily available. Only for the situation where a dangerous leak of ammonia is detected through staining in an unintentional release in a legitimate use of ammonia, where illegal uses and traffic are involved, the indication of the presence or previous presence of ammonia in a where it would not otherwise be expected is likely to indicate hazardous conditions, due for example to the presence of liquid ammonia or other chemical products and devices related to the production of methamphetamines, of which all present multiple risks to health. Where the stain is not obvious under visible light, but is fluorescent, ultraviolet lights can be used by cleaning teams or crime scene units to locate evidence and dispose of contaminated items. An indication of the staining properties of an environment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 1, where it is shown that spots (265) would be helpful both in identifying the individuals involved and in identifying the hazardous nature of the location. In this exemplary embodiment, a dye solution in ammonia is used in a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory (201) and has several stained articles that were in contact with the liquid anhydrous ammonia which has evaporated. The container (203) and the container lid (213) used to transport the liquid ammonia and dye solution have been stained (265). Also as a result of a spill or vapor leakage from the container (203), the floor (215) is stained (265). Steam leakage or spillage has also stained (265) the user (211) of the ammonia dye solution, as well as the user's clothing (229). In addition, articles used in the laboratory such as a jar (213) and the hose (219) used in conjunction with the two-liter bottle (217) as part of the salting process are stained (265). Each of these also released steam or liquid by staining (265) the heater (207), the counter (209) and the table (205). Because of all the above staining properties, the inclusion of a dye in liquid ammonia makes the production and use of methamphetamines a messy intent and one more likely to be detected. This increased disorder and detectability resulting from the ammonia dye solution leads to significant dissuasive effects on those who would otherwise be involved in the production and use of methamphetamines. The dissuasive effects include psychological deterrence, physical deterrence and economic deterrence. Psychological deterrence comes from a diminished taste to participate in activities related to the production and use of methamphetamines due to the desire not to be personally stained or to have stained possessions and an aversion for the same, as well as an increased fear of being identified and prosecuted for these activities. Since the staining may come from either the dye in the ammonia solution itself during the theft, transport and use thereof, as well as stained methamphetamine as a result of production using a dye solution in ammonia, all persons involved in activities related to the production and use of methamphetamines may be discouraged. To take advantage of this psychological deterrent effect, warning signs may be used to indicate that certain stored ammonia includes an indicator dye. These warning signs can be used as a deterrent to the illegal acquisition of ammonia or the ammonia dye solution labeled in this way, whether the dye is actually present in the ammonia or not in the container labeled in this way and either that the dye is visible or not with ordinary lighting such as sunlight or white electric lights. The psychological deterrent effect may be present in any of a variety of specific circumstances in which one decides not to elaborate, use, transport or otherwise be in contact with liquid ammonia, liquid ammonia containing a dye or a product such as a drug. made of it A methamphetamine producer needs to deal with elaborate protection methods to prevent the dye from being easily apparent on it and on objects and materials that come into contact with a dye solution in ammonia., including its own personnel and real properties. Many methamphetamine producers will not take or be able to take these precautions. Because precautions to reduce the risk of staining by the use of a dye solution in ammonia can be costly or time consuming or otherwise inconvenient, a person who would otherwise be a methamphetamine producer may decide not to produce methamphetamines or it can produce the drug by alternative methods which may be less reliable, may take longer and may result in an inferior product. This is an example of a mode of dissuasive effect on methamphetamine producers. In another modality, while it is not a complete deterrent, if a methamphetamine producer decides not to produce the drug in his residence for fear of detection by a landlord to someone else, and instead produces it in a remote area with a low density population, an alternative benefit is obtained by the overall deterrent effect of spotting, which is safer for neighbors near the producer's residence location and potentially safer for emergency responders who face a site dangerous less confined when the remote production laboratory is discovered.

In addition, because in one embodiment the methamphetamine product is stained, it is readily apparent to a potential user that the indicator dye could be transferred to it through the use of the methamphetamine produced using the anhydrous ammonia with dye. FIGURE 2 provides a coffee filter that includes the final product stained with methamphetamine. This staining ability can persuade the acquisition or use of stained methamphetamine. In one example, a teen at a party may be wanting to get an untainted methamphetamine in the hope that eventually upon returning home all the evidence of its use will be gone, but that same teen will probably be much less eager to get the same drug when, for example, the use of it is easily detected by their parents the next morning due to the effect of staining the drug and the generation of a stain on the person of the adolescent or the clothes of the adolescent. In this case, the taste for using the drug or the lack of it is a measure of psychological deterrence. This deterrence can occur even if the drug is not visibly stained and whether it is completely stained or not. It is possible that deterrence affects a user's use decision based on the belief that the drug is stained with a non-visible but fluorescent dye. It is also possible that a potential user is dissuaded simply from the possibility that the drug is stained and can choose not to use it, regardless of whether the user believes that the drug is stained. In another example, staining solvent carriers of the methamphetamine product, such as water or alcohol, can discourage the introduction of the drug into a person's drink without their knowledge, particularly where staining results in visible coloration. This can prevent people from becoming addicted to the drug accidentally in situations where the drug is ingested without the knowledge of the person, such as where the drug is placed in that person's drink by another individual. This may also prevent the drug from being used to "dope" others without their knowledge, such as in the frequent use of the so-called drug to inhibit resistance to sexual assault. This unknown doping also occurs through the mixing of illicit drugs, for example, when methamphetamines are mixed with cocaine. Stained methamphetamines will also discourage the use of the drug since users are discouraged from using it by obvious discoloration. In addition to the increased risk of detection (even long after use), this discoloration causes problems with respect to the quality of the product. Where it is known that the pure product is white, a potential user may wonder what other impurities, possibly dangerous impurities, may be present in the product of the stained drug. This change in appearance is also shown in FIGURE 2. For the ammonia dealer, the vapor staining effect makes it more difficult to initially obtain the liquid ammonia if one does not want to get stained. Since most liquid ammonia thieves do not have access to sophisticated safety and transportation equipment as authorized by authorized users, it is likely that while attempting to steal liquid ammonia, liquid streams, droplets, vapor or mist will be released under pressure from the tank, staining the thief, his clothes, his transport container and associated items, which frequently include a vehicle in which the stolen liquid ammonia is being transported. Where the stain is obvious under illumination with visible light, this stain can easily be detected by the forces and security forces when the thieves are escaping with the liquid ammonia, allowing them to be apprehended before they can sell this stolen ammonia or even begin the methamphetamine production. In another modality, the ammonia dye solution is not colored in an obvious way, so it is not apparent to a person who would try to steal the liquid ammonia that the material may or may not contain the dye until it is too late and staining has occurred. This modality discourages the theft of all anhydrous ammonia since in the general consciousness of those who would be thieves there is a fear of potential staining, even if the dye is not included in the solution. In addition to making the production and use of methamphetamines a more messy process and thereby providing a psychological deterrent to these activities, in one embodiment, the inclusion of an indicator dye such as rhodamine WT in anhydrous ammonia would also make the production of Methamphetamine, which is more time-consuming and more expensive, either by decreasing the yield resulting from the methamphetamine produced using the ammonia dye solution, by decreasing the quality resulting from methamphetamines, by decreasing its price in the market or by increasing the time and the materials required to make the same quantity of the same quality methamphetamine that would be produced using pure liquid ammonia. The inclusion of rhodamine WT, another xanthene dye or other dye could inhibit the necessary reactions that are required to form methamphetamines. Also, as presented later in the Examples section with regard to rhodamine WT specifically, methamphetamines produced from ammonia including a xanthene dye are a different product in terms of the physical characteristics of the methamphetamines produced without being present the dye. Not only the methamphetamine produced are colored instead of white, but it is not a fluid powder and instead is moist or oily. The step in the production that would normally result in an essentially dry white powder within a few minutes, instead results in a pink viscous or sticky mass that takes increased time and effort to filter when the methamphetamines are made using a solution of rhodamine WT in ammonia. This moist or oily character makes the drug product unattractive, difficult to handle, collect and carry and can alter the process by which one uses the drug to obtain the desired physiological effect. It can also inhibit to some degree the desired physiological effect. These results in methamphetamine synthesis when a dye solution in ammonia is used result in physical deterrence through reduced or eliminated yields or economic deterrence through the more expensive procedures required to obtain a "clean" product. , if this result is possible after the stained product is made. As described above and in Example 1 below, even small amounts of dye result in a significant alteration of the characteristics of the methamphetamine produced. Because these small amounts result in this alteration, it can be paularly difficult to remove the dye from the ammonia to a degree that the dye does not interfere with the physical propes of the methamphetamine. An additional result of the various dissuasive effects of a dye solution on ammonia is a certain security provided to those who store, transport and legitimately use liquid ammonia. With the knowledge that tanks may contain a marker dye, it is more likely that some who would steal from a legitimate user will find an easier target to steal, or desist from using ammonia, for use along with a different product or material and This way avoid the problems associated with the detection of illegal activity. So, this deterrence eliminates either the financial drain as the bodily danger or both for the legitimate users. AlternativelyWhile staining can not completely deter ammonia thefts, it can force those who attempt these robberies to use more sophisticated methods, which are generally safer for anyone involved, including the victim, the thief and those nearby. In addition, while there is the benefit of knowing about a theft or attempted robbery, the visible spotting of a particular modality is an aid to victims of theft who are legitimate users. Preferably than having to wait until a measurement indicates less ammonia present in a storage tank than expected, it is likely that the victim of a theft will know of the theft immediately upon seeing the area around the tank, due to the color spot in the Robbery site. To the extent that it is beneficial, a victim can still identify a theft or attempted robbery from a certain distance due to the color spot. The addition of a dye to solid ammonium nitrate can also serve similar purposes as those benefited by the ammonia dye solution, that is, the identification of individuals and hazardous conditions involved in the misuse of the material. Also, deterrence in other circumstances related to the production of illicit drugs, such as where the attempt is made to convert ammonium nitrate to ammonia for the use described above and in unrelated circumstances, such as the production of explosives. For example, those who try to build explosives or ammonium nitrate bombs can be stained, which can facilitate the recognition and interruption of possible terrorist activities before they can be carried out. In addition, a dye in ammonium nitrate can stain those who try to convert ammonium nitrate to anhydrous ammonia for use in the subsequent production of methamphetamine. While the dye may remain in the resulting product of ammonia, providing all the benefits described above, one would note that even if not, the spotting of ammonium nitrate can provide a deterrent effect based on a spotting effect caused by the contact with the ammonium nitrate. As a benefit essentially opposite to deterrence, where the presence of the stain is unknown and is not visible under sunlight or electric, white lights, but is still detectable, such as by means of fluorescence, a false sense is provided of safety to those who use a dye solution in ammonia or illicit drugs produced from it. The benefit to society lies in the fact that it is now easier to detect these users because they are not highly alert and sensitive to potential detection. The compositions, methods and systems described herein are particularly useful with respect to solutions of ammonia dyes to detect the presence or presence of ammonia. One reason for this particular utility is that a primary use of ammonia is as a fertilizer for agricultural production. In this application, it is clearly irrelevant whether a small amount of dye has been applied to the land comprising a field used to grow agricultural products, as long as the dye is relatively safe - with respect to animal and environmental health. While the compositions, methods and systems described herein are also useful with respect to dye solutions in other solvents such as alcohols, ethers, ketones and other organic or inorganic solvents, especially those solvents that can be used in the production of substances controlled substances other than methamphetamines (ie, substances regulated by federal law, such as those listed in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations) or in methamphetamine production methods other than the lithium reduction method, which depends on ammonia as a solvent, these other solvents are frequently used for purposes in which the presence of a dye is not desired and may be harmful. In sum, there is no reason for prohibiting the compositions, methods and systems described in this document from being used with solvents other than ammonia as would be understood by an ordinary person skilled in the art, this use alone may not be practical due to the predominant uses of the other various solvents.

EXAMPLES The invention will now be described with respect to the following examples; however, it is not proposed that the scope of the present invention be limited because of that. Example 1 In a controlled laboratory environment, 12 microliters of the commercial product marketed as "KeyAcid Rhodamine WTMR" and manufactured by Keystone Analine Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, which is a 21.2% w / w solution of rhodamine WT in water and 300 mL of anhydrous ammonia were combined in a flask. This is approximately 0.0567 kilograms (2 ounces) of KeyAcid Rhodamine WTMR in one ton of liquid anhydrous ammonia. The mixture was stirred until a solution having a very light yellow dye formed. The solvation of rhodamine WT in ammonia transformed rhodamine WT into an almost colorless composition. However, the surface of each piece of equipment used in this process was visibly stained light pink in the areas exposed to ammonia and from which the ammonia had evaporated. The solution was also intentionally placed in contact with several additional equipment and materials, including metal screwdriver heads, concrete and paper. All equipment and exposed materials were visibly stained pink with the evaporation of anhydrous ammonia. During the mixing process, some of the mixture inadvertently made contact with the items, including protective gloves and the hands of the researchers who were mixing. These additional items were also visibly stained pink. The ammonia dye solution was added to 2 grams of pure pharmaceutical grade ephedrine in a 500 mL beaker. The contents of the flask were stirred to dissolve the ephedrine. Any material that came in contact with this solution, including the flask when it was emptied, also visibly stained pink with the evaporation of the ammonia solvent. The visible pink spot on the flask was transferred to a sponge when the flask was washed. Lithium metal was added to the ephedrine solution. This mixture was heated to carry out a reaction commonly called "Birch". During the Birch reaction, the materials contained by the mixture were not stained. It is believed that the lack of a stain at this stage may be due to the reduction of rhodamine WT to a colorless composition.

Evaporation of the ammonia from the Birch reaction mixture left a methamphetamine-free base form. In order to purify it, the methamphetamine free base was dissolved in a liquid ether and converted to the hydrochloride salt by bubbling hydrogen chloride gas through the solution. The methamphetamine salt was precipitated from the solution. During this process, the plastic tubes used to carry the hydrogen chloride gas in the dissolved methamphetamine were visibly stained pink as well as the beaker. The methamphetamine salt product was filtered through a coffee filter to retain the methamphetamine. The coffee filter used for this filtration together with the resulting product are shown in the image of FIGURE 2. Two things were observed. First, both the coffee filter and the resulting product were stained pink. In addition, filtration did not occur easily because instead of forming a clear, fast-drying crystal, the product was a pink sludge, which was difficult to filter and dry. This pink mud (methamphetamine) visibly stained pink objects that came into contact, including plastic storage bags.

Example 2 The human skin of a researcher was exposed to a small amount of a solution of rhodamine WT and visibly stained pink. The skin was then washed repeatedly until the dye was no longer visible to the human eye without help. The skin was then observed under irradiation by a portable ultraviolet light which showed the stained area originally still indicated by fluorescence. The fluorescence was still visible on the skin two weeks later when exposed to ultraviolet light after the normal activity and washing of the researcher. When a more concentrated solution of the dye was used in a similar way, the fluorescence was still visible 4 to 6 weeks after the exposure. Example 3 The methamphetamine was generated using liquid anhydrous ammonia containing rhodamine WT as a dye in a manner similar to that described in Example 1. The physical-chemical investigation of the methamphetamine led to the discovery that some of the dye resided on the outer surface of the methamphetamine crystals. To try to remove the dye from the resulting methamphetamine, the crystals were washed with one of: water, acetone, toluene, petroleum ether or xylenes. In all cases, either the methamphetamine and the dye dissolved in the washing agent and the resulting mixture would stain the objects with which they came into contact, or neither the methamphetamine nor the dye would dissolve. The methamphetamine was recrystallized from various solutions containing stained methamphetamine and at least one of: alcohol, toluene, xylenes and petroleum ether. The resulting recrystallizations still showed an obvious staining of the dye indicating that the dissolution and recrystallization did not result in the removal of the dye. While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, this should not be taken as a limitation on the totality of the details provided. Modifications and variations of the described modalities can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it should be understood that other modalities are included in the present description as would be understood by those of ordinary experience in the field.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the previous presence of ammonia in a liquid state, characterized in that it comprises: introducing a xanthene dye in the liquid state, the dye creates a spot on a material in contact with the ammonia in the liquid state with the conversion of something of the ammonia in liquid state from a liquid to a gas; and detect the stain.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorene.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorone.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a pyronine.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a rhodamine.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is rhodamine WT.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is fluorescein.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a dye identified within the index range, 45000-46999, of the COLOR INDEX ™, volume 5, Chemical Classifications, 1976.

9. The method of compliance with claim 1, characterized in that the step that consists in detecting the spot can be performed by the human eye without help.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the spot is colored under illumination with visible light.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step which consists in detecting the spot comprises the spot which is fluorescent in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the xanthene dye comprises between about 1 to 100 parts per million of ammonia on a weight-to-weight basis.

13. A method for detecting the production of a controlled substance, characterized in that it comprises: providing a solution of a xanthene dye in a solvent used in the production of the controlled substance; use the solution in the production of the controlled substance, thereby generating the production of by-products that comprise the solution; staining materials that come into contact with any of the solution, by-products and controlled substance; and detect the stain on the materials; wherein the spotting can be detected even in the absence of one or more of the solution, the by-products and the controlled substance.

The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorene.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorone.

16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a pyronine.

17. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a rhodamine.

18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is rhodamine WT.

19. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is fluorescein.

20. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a dye identified within the index range, 45000-46999, of the COLOR INDEX "11, volume 5, Chemical Classifications, 1976.

21. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the stain is visible to the naked eye

22. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the stain is colored under illumination with visible light

23. The method according to the claim 13, characterized in that the spot is fluorescent in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light

24. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the xanthene dye comprises between about 1 to 100 parts per million of ammonia in a weight-to-weight basis

25. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the controlled substance is methamphetamine.

26. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the solvent is ammonia.

27. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it also comprises the step consisting of: having the xanthene dye that survives the production of the controlled substance, thereby staining the controlled substance.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the controlled substance is methamphetamine.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that at least some of the xanthene dye resides on the surface of the methamphetamine.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the xanthene dye can not be washed off the surface of the methamphetamine with water, acetone, toluene, petroleum ether or xylenes.

31. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the xanthene stain spots the materials that come into contact with the methamphetamine.

32. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the staining of the methamphetamine comprises a stain visible to the naked eye.

33. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the staining of the methamphetamine is colored under illumination with visible light.

34. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the staining of the methamphetamine comprises a stain that is fluorescent in response to illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light.

35. A solution for detecting the previous presence of ammonia in the liquid state, characterized in that it comprises: liquid anhydrous ammonia and a rhodamine dye dissolved in the liquid anhydrous ammonia to form an ammonia solution; where the rhodamine dye will leave a stain on the materials that were in contact with the ammonia solution by converting some of the ammonia into a gas.

36. The solution according to claim 35, characterized in that the spot is of a predetermined color that is visible to the human eye under illumination with visible light.

37. The solution according to claim 36, characterized in that the solution is not of a predetermined color.

38. A method for making possible the detection of the previous presence of ammonia in liquid state, characterized in that it comprises: introducing a dye in the ammonia in a liquid state to create a combination, the dye creates a stain on materials that are in contact with the liquid. combination by the conversion of ammonia from a liquid to a gas; and store the ammonia and dye in a pressurized tank.

39. A method for deterring the theft of ammonia in a liquid state, characterized in that it comprises: providing ammonia in a liquid state; add a dye to the ammonia in liquid state; and form a solution of ammonia and dye, the solution generates a stain on the objects that are in contact with the solution; wherein the step that consists in forming a solution includes forming a homogeneous mixture.

40. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the stain is only detectable with the evaporation of the ammonia from the solution.

41. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the solution is visibly different from the ammonia in the liquid state.

42. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the ammonia in the liquid state comprises anhydrous ammonia.

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that the anhydrous ammonia is stored under pressure.

44. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the dye comprises a colored dye.

45. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the dye comprises a fluorescent dye.

46. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the dye comprises a xanthene dye.

47. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that the dye comprises a rhodamine dye.

48. A method for deterring the theft of anhydrous ammonia, characterized in that it comprises: providing a sealed package of anhydrous ammonia; and fixing a label to the sealed container, the label indicates that the anhydrous ammonia includes a dye that will leave a detectable spot on the objects that are in contact with the anhydrous ammonia but that is not easily visible in the anhydrous ammonia; wherein the anhydrous ammonia does not include the indicated dye.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that the label indicates that the anhydrous ammonia includes a dye that will stain a controlled substance which is produced using the anhydrous ammonia.

50. A method for inhibiting the use of a controlled substance, characterized in that it comprises: providing a solution of a dye in a solvent used in the production of the controlled substance; use the solution in the production of the controlled substance; have the production that stains the controlled substance; and inhibit the use of the controlled substance due to a decreased desire to use the controlled substance when it is stained compared to the controlled substance in the absence of the stain.

51. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the stained controlled substance is capable of staining the materials that are in contact with the stained controlled substance.

52. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that the materials comprise human skin.

53. A method for detecting the prior presence of ammonium nitrate, characterized in that it comprises: introducing a xanthene dye onto the surface of the ammonium nitrate; staining materials that are in contact with ammonium nitrate; and detect the stain.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the dye remains in the ammonia produced from the ammonium nitrate.

55. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorene.

56. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a fluorone.

57. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a pyronine.

58. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is a rhodamine.

59. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is rhodamine WT.

60. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the xanthene dye is fluorescein.

61. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the step that consists of detecting the spot can be performed by the human eye without help.

62. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the spot is colored under illumination with visible light.

63. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the step which consists in detecting the spot comprises the spot which is fluorescent in response to the illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light.