Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.

Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.

The present invention related to an apparatus for separating micro-nano scale particles based on microfluidic chromatography using surface acoustic waves, comprising: a piezoelectric substrate; a pair of transducers, which are patterned on the piezoelectric substrate and generate surface acoustic waves when electric energy is applied to the piezoelectric substrate; a microfluidic chip, which is mounted on the piezoelectric substrate and include a microfluidic channel disposed between the pair of transducers, wherein a fluid including micro-nano scale particles flows in the microfluidic channel; and a detection unit, which detects micro-nano scale particles separated by the surface acoustic waves while the micro-nano scale particles pass through the microfluidic channel, wherein forces of the surface acoustic waves generated by the pair of transducers are formed in a direction opposite to a fluid flow to generate flow resistance to the micro-nano scale particles which flows in the microfluidic channel.

The present invention related to an apparatus for separating micro-nano scale particles based on microfluidic chromatography using surface acoustic waves, comprising: a piezoelectric substrate; a pair of transducers, which are patterned on the piezoelectric substrate and generate surface acoustic waves when electric energy is applied to the piezoelectric substrate; a microfluidic chip, which is mounted on the piezoelectric substrate and include a microfluidic channel disposed between the pair of transducers, wherein a fluid including micro-nano scale particles flows in the microfluidic channel; and a detection unit, which detects micro-nano scale particles separated by the surface acoustic waves while the micro-nano scale particles pass through the microfluidic channel, wherein forces of the surface acoustic waves generated by the pair of transducers are formed in a direction opposite to a fluid flow to generate flow resistance to the micro-nano scale particles which flows in the microfluidic channel.

A method for identification of chemicals in a sample using a gas chromatograph, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor coupled with the gas chromatograph to define a gas chromatography (GC)/SAW system, and a Raman spectrometer. The method includes receiving SAW frequency response data generated by the SAW sensor, receiving Raman spectrum data generated by the Raman spectrometer, producing a Raman spectrum corresponding to an eluted component of interest based upon an integration of the Raman spectrum data, identifying a set of one or more candidate chemicals for the eluted component of interest based on a corresponding peak of the SAW frequency response data, and searching a Raman database for a match between the produced Raman spectrum and a chemical in the Raman database from among the set of candidate chemicals for the eluted component of interest.

A method for identification of chemicals in a sample using a gas chromatograph, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor coupled with the gas chromatograph to define a gas chromatography (GC)/SAW system, and a Raman spectrometer. The method includes receiving SAW frequency response data generated by the SAW sensor, receiving Raman spectrum data generated by the Raman spectrometer, producing a Raman spectrum corresponding to an eluted component of interest based upon an integration of the Raman spectrum data, identifying a set of one or more candidate chemicals for the eluted component of interest based on a corresponding peak of the SAW frequency response data, and searching a Raman database for a match between the produced Raman spectrum and a chemical in the Raman database from among the set of candidate chemicals for the eluted component of interest.

A gravimetric detector including a nanoelectronic structure including: a fixed part, at least one part suspended from the fixed part, an excitation device to vibrate the suspended part relative to the fixed part, a detector to detect variations in vibration of the suspended part, and a porous functionalization layer at least partially covering the suspended part, porosity of the functionalization layer being between 3% and 50%.

A gravimetric detector including a nanoelectronic structure including: a fixed part, at least one part suspended from the fixed part, an excitation device to vibrate the suspended part relative to the fixed part, a detector to detect variations in vibration of the suspended part, and a porous functionalization layer at least partially covering the suspended part, porosity of the functionalization layer being between 3% and 50%.

A method for identification of chemicals in a sample using a gas chromatograph and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor coupled with the gas chromatograph to define a gas chromatography (GC)/SAW system. The method includes receiving a temperature profile defining a varying target temperature as a function of time, separating one or more eluted components from a sample with the gas chromatograph, adjusting a temperature of the SAW sensor in accordance with the temperature profile as the one or more eluted components are separated from the sample by the gas chromatograph, generating SAW frequency response data with the SAW sensor, the SAW frequency response data including one or more peaks corresponding respectively to the one or more eluted components separated from the sample, and identifying a set of one or more candidate chemicals for an eluted component of interest based on a corresponding peak of the SAW frequency response data.

A method for identification of chemicals in a sample using a gas chromatograph and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor coupled with the gas chromatograph to define a gas chromatography (GC)/SAW system. The method includes receiving a temperature profile defining a varying target temperature as a function of time, separating one or more eluted components from a sample with the gas chromatograph, adjusting a temperature of the SAW sensor in accordance with the temperature profile as the one or more eluted components are separated from the sample by the gas chromatograph, generating SAW frequency response data with the SAW sensor, the SAW frequency response data including one or more peaks corresponding respectively to the one or more eluted components separated from the sample, and identifying a set of one or more candidate chemicals for an eluted component of interest based on a corresponding peak of the SAW frequency response data.