Abstract
Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) and hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) are techniques widely used in analytical, industrial and biological analyses. The main problem in all AF4 and HF5 analyses is sample loss due to analyte–membrane interactions. In this work the impact of liquid carrier composition on latex nanoparticles (NPs) separation in water and two different concentrations of NH4NO3 was studied. In AF4, a constant trend of decreasing the size of 60 and 121.9 nm particles induced by the ionic strength of the carrier liquid has been observed. In contrast, an agglomeration effect of the biggest 356 nm particles was observed when increasing ionic strength, which induced a significant drop of recovery to 35%. H5F provides better resolution and intensified peaks of NPs, but careful optimisation of system parameters is mandatory to obtain good separation.
Highlights
IntroductionNowadays flow field-flow fractionation (F4 or FlFFF) is one of the most widely used analytical techniques for the separation and characterization of nano- and micrometer particles [1,2,3,4]
Nowadays flow field-flow fractionation (F4 or FlFFF) is one of the most widely used analytical techniques for the separation and characterization of nano- and micrometer particles [1,2,3,4]. This technique uses a laminar stream of liquid flowing along the separation channel and a perpendicularly directed cross flow to separate the particles according to their size
Optimizing the separation of the 4F instrument in term of resolution requires setting up several parameters including: cross flow and channel outflow, relaxation and elution time as well as channel thickness and liquid carrier composition [10,11,12]
Summary
Nowadays flow field-flow fractionation (F4 or FlFFF) is one of the most widely used analytical techniques for the separation and characterization of nano- and micrometer particles [1,2,3,4]. This technique uses a laminar stream of liquid flowing along the separation channel and a perpendicularly directed cross flow to separate the particles according to their size. The last one is undoubtedly crucial for all FFF techniques. The optimum composition should stabilize the particles in unchanged forms, avoiding their agglomeration
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