Patent ID: 7462492

Claim:
Apparatus for effecting 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 separation medium and being sufficiently transparent to excitation radiation, at least at one location, to permit transmission of excitation radiation effective for generating measurable amounts of surface enhanced Raman scattered radiation, and being sufficiently transparent to surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation, at least at said one location along its length, 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 past said at least one location, 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.