The Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) techniques are powerful tools able to perform fast, gentle and high resolution separations of any particulate matter from 1 nm up to 100 µm in a liquid medium. The separation occurs inside an open flow channel without the presence of any packing or stationary phase inside, thanks to the action of a field force applied perpendicularly to it. The different force field (liquid flows, centrifugal forces, temperature gradients or gravity fields), determines the FFF method. FFF are nowadays particularly useful for the characterization of nano-entities, such the nanoparticles (NPs) added in many everyday products. Flow-FFF, often coupled on-line with specific element detectors, such as ICP-MS, or the centrifugal FFF, are the most common methods used to sort and size NPs. Size, along with shape, morphology and many other physicochemical parameters are , in fact, the principal characteristics, which has to be determined to evaluate the health or/and environmental effects caused by the NPs. This presentation will present an overview of the most relevant information, which can be achieved thanks to the FFF methods in the field of nanotechnologies.
Field Flow Fractionation: tools for exploring the NanoWorld
CONTADO, Catia
2016
Abstract
The Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) techniques are powerful tools able to perform fast, gentle and high resolution separations of any particulate matter from 1 nm up to 100 µm in a liquid medium. The separation occurs inside an open flow channel without the presence of any packing or stationary phase inside, thanks to the action of a field force applied perpendicularly to it. The different force field (liquid flows, centrifugal forces, temperature gradients or gravity fields), determines the FFF method. FFF are nowadays particularly useful for the characterization of nano-entities, such the nanoparticles (NPs) added in many everyday products. Flow-FFF, often coupled on-line with specific element detectors, such as ICP-MS, or the centrifugal FFF, are the most common methods used to sort and size NPs. Size, along with shape, morphology and many other physicochemical parameters are , in fact, the principal characteristics, which has to be determined to evaluate the health or/and environmental effects caused by the NPs. This presentation will present an overview of the most relevant information, which can be achieved thanks to the FFF methods in the field of nanotechnologies.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
