Improvements in or relating to separation processes

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Separation of target material from a liquid sample is achieved by coupling the target to targetable encapsulated gas microbubbles allowing the microbubbles , and coupled target to float to the surface of the sample to form a floating microbubble/target layer, and separating this layer from the sample. In a positive separation process the microbubbles are then removed from the target e.g. by bursting. In a negative separation process target-free sample material is recovered following separation of the floating layer. The method may also be used diagnostically to detect the presence of a disease marker in a sample. Novel separation apparatus is also described.