Patent ID: 9470671
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A perchlorate detector comprising: surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-active, magnetic, capture matrices that are selective for perchlorate, wherein the capture matrices are designed to be added to a sample solution; a detection chamber configured to hold the sample solution and the capture matrices wherein the detection chamber comprises a confinement region having an indentation; a selectively engageable magnet assembly coupled to the detection chamber such that when the magnet assembly is engaged or disengaged the capture matrices are respectively confined or not confined to the confinement region of the detection chamber; a Raman spectrometer optically aligned with the confinement region of the detection chamber and configured to interrogate the capture matrices when the magnet assembly is engaged in order to detect and determine a concentration of perchlorate bound to the capture matrices; and a water reservoir hydraulically coupled to the indentation via a valve such that when the valve is open and the magnetic assembly is disengaged water enters the indentation and flushes the capture matrices out of the indentation.