THE FIELD-FLOW FRACTIONATION HISTORY

Field-Flow Fractionation was invented and patented in 1966 by Prof. Calvin Giddings (1930-1996) [1], an outstanding scientist and two-times Nobel-Price nominee (1984/1994), from University Utah at Salt Lake City, USA. Prof. Giddings founded the Field-Flow Fractionation Research Center (FFFresearch Center) at University of Utah, where he developed the complete theory of Field-Flow Fractionation and the different Field-Flow Fractionation sub-techniques. Prof. Giddings and his team developed Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation [2] in 1969, Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation [3] in 1974, Flow Field-Flow Fractionation [4] in 1976 and Split Flow Thin Cell Fractionation (SPLITT) in 1985 [5]. In 1987 Giddings/Wahlund published the first paper about Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation [6], which revolutionized Flow Field-Flow Fractionation and later became the most popular Field-Flow Fractionation technology used today.

Another important step in the evolution of the Field-Flow Fractionation technology was achieved, when Prof. Michel Martin from École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles in Paris first postulated and finally in 1984 published the World’s First Online Coupling of Field-Flow Fractionation with Light Scattering [7,8]. Combining the separation power of Field-Flow Fractionation with the particle sizing power of Light Scattering creates an unmatched high resolution particle sizing tool without comparison. This visionary work of Prof. Martin formed the basis of today’s modern Field-Flow Fractionation – Light Scattering technology. Several other groups copied this approach, by using the broad instrumental FFF basis developed by Prof. Giddings and his team.

In 1986, Prof. Giddings and some co-workers founded the legendary company FFFractionation, Inc. in Salt Lake City. It was the first company in the field of Field-Flow Fractionation, which developed and introduced the world’s first commercial Field-Flow Fractionation instruments, the Models T100 (Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation), S101 (Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation), F1000 (Flow Field-Flow Fractionation) and SF1000 SPLITT (Split Flow Thin Cell Fractionation). [9,10,11,12].

In 1997 Dr. Thorsten Klein from Technical University of Munich, Germany founded Postnova Analytics in Munich which introduced the first complete Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation into the market. In 2001 Postnova and FFFractionation merged together, forming the only company in the area of Field-Flow Fractionation, offering the complete range of FFF systems. Postnova also invented the world’s first High Temperature Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation and commercialized this technology in 2006 [13].

Today, Postnova is the leading Field-Flow Fractionation company, completely focused on the Field-Flow Fractionation and Light Scattering technology. Postnova offers the full range of Field-Flow Fractionation systems coupled with Light Scattering. The unique principle of Field-Flow Fractionation developed by Prof. Giddings and his co-workers around the world is an integral part of every commercial instrument manufactured by Postnova Analytics. It is the focus of Postnova Analytics to commercialize the unique ideas of Prof. Giddings, making the Field-Flow Fractionation technology available to the scientific community around the globe.

FIELD-FLOW FRACTIONATION PRINCIPLE

Field-Flow Fractionation is a family of unique separation techniques, comprising of various different sub-techniques. All these Field-Flow Fractionation versions utilize the same basic separation principle, but employ different force fields. Depending on the used separation field the technique is called Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation or Split Flow Thin Cell Fractionation (SPLITT). Field-Flow Fractionation is providing fast, gentle and high resolution separations of any particulate matter from 1 nm up to 100 µm in a liquid medium. The sample is separated inside an open flow channel without the presence of any packing or stationary phase inside.




Depending on the Field-Flow Fractionation method which is used, different force fields (liquid flows, centrifugal forces, temperature gradients or gravity fields) are used and applied perpendicular to the separation channel. Under the influence of these force fields and the counteracting diffusion field, different equilibrium layers are formed by the sample analytes. Smaller particles are located in faster and bigger particles are located in slower stream lines of the laminar flow inside the channel. This results in the elution pattern where smaller particles are transported faster through the channel than the bigger ones.
 

For more information about Field-Flow Fractionation contact Postnova Analytics via telephone, fax, email or visit our homepage!

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[1] J.C. Giddings, “New separation concept based on a coupling of concentration and flow non-uniformities”, Separation Sci., 1 123-125 (1966).
[2] G.H. Thompson, M.N. Myers, and J.C. Giddings, "Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation of Polystyrene Samples", Anal. Chem., 41 1219-1222 (1969).
[3] J.C. Giddings, F.J.F. Yang, M.N. Myers, "Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation", Anal. Chem., 46 1917-1924 (1974).
[4] J.C. Giddings, F.J. Yang, M.N. Myers, "Flow Field-Flow Fractionation: A Versatile New Separation Method", Science, 193 1244-2145 (1976).
[5] J.C. Giddings, "A System Based on Split-Flow Lateral-Transport Thin (SPLITT) Separation Cells for Rapid and Continuous Particle Fractionation", Sep. Sci. Technol., 20 749-768 (1985).
[6] Wahlund, K.G.; Giddings, J.C.; “Properties of an asym. flow field-flow fractionation channel having one permeable wall”, Anal. Chem., 59 1332-39 (1987).
[7] Martin, M.; “Polymer analysis by fractionation with on-line light scattering detectors”, Sep. Sci. Technol.; Sep. Sci. Technol.; 19 685-707 (1982).
[8] Martin, M.; Hes, J.; “On-line coupling of thermal field-flow fractionation with laser light scattering”, Chromatographia; 15 426-432 (1984).
[9-12] FFFractionation, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, USA “Model F1000”, “Model S101”, “Model T100”, Model “ SF1000”, Product Brochures, (1986).
[13] H. DeJonge, E. Mes, T. Klein, R. Welz, “High Molecular Weight Polyolefin Analysis by High Temperature Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation”, Oral Presentation/Poster 1st ICPC Conference, Houston, USA, Oct. 15th-18th (2006).

 

Flow FFF  |  Asymmetrical Flow Field Flow Fractionation  |  Thermal FFF  |  Sedimentation FFF