Chemical separation and plural-point, surface-enhanced raman spectral detection using metal-doped sol-gels
AssigneeReal-Time Analyzers, Inc.
InventorsStuart Farquharson, Paul Maksymiuk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sol-gel beds and deposits are utilized for SERS analysis of liquid analytes. Measurements are made at multiple points along the length of a column or channel to increase, very significantly, the speed of analysis, and use of the same medium to both separate the chemicals and also for SERS greatly reduces the complexity of such apparatus and enhances the efficiency of the method.
Claims14
A method for substantially simultaneously separating and detecting at least one analyte compound, comprising:
- transporting a sample solution containing a plurality of compounds, including at least one analyte compound, through or along a metal-doped, surface-enhanced Raman-active sol-gel medium, comprising or defining an elongate path for said sample solution, in sufficiently intimate contact for effecting separation of said at least one analyte compound;
- substantially concurrently irradiating said medium with excitation radiation, at least at a plurality of locations along said path, to generate thereat inelastically scattered Raman radiation;
- collecting at least a portion of said scattered radiation at said plurality of locations;
- and
- analyzing said collected radiation to determine the presence of the analyte compound in said sample solution.
Apparatus for effecting, substantially simultaneously, separation of at least one analyte compound from a sample solution containing a plurality of dissolved compounds, and detection of the at least one analyte compound, comprising:
- elongate containment means for containing a porous medium and being sufficiently transparent to excitation radiation, at least at a plurality of locations along its length, to permit transmission of excitation radiation effective for generating measurable amounts of inelastically scattered Raman radiation, and being sufficiently transparent to inelastically scattered Raman radiation, at least at said plurality of locations, to permit transmission of measurable amounts of such scattered radiation;
- a quantity of at least one metal-doped, surface-enhanced Raman-active sol-gel contained in said containment means and providing a porous medium, said medium defining a flow path through said containment means along said plurality of locations, said medium being of such character as to promote intimate contact with a sample solution transported along said flow path;
- and
- means for defining an entrance for a sample solution to said flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.