Apparatus and method for increasing the concentration of a chemical
substance in a fluid comprise a micro-fluidic elongated channel formed in
a substrate, with the channel being in fluid-flow communication with an
ambient region along its elongated dimension. In general, the fluid
includes first and second chemical substances having different vapor
pressures. The apparatus includes an evaporation controller for
increasing the evaporation rate of the fluid from the channel into the
ambient region, thereby increasing the concentration of the higher vapor
pressure (HVP) substance in the portion of the fluid remaining in the
channel and increasing the concentration of the lower vapor pressure
(LVP) substance in the portion of the fluid evaporated into the ambient
region.