Size- and shape-dependent separation of TiO2 colloidal sub-populations with gravitational field flow fractionation

The simplest field flow fractionation technique, which uses the earth’s gravity as the external field is applied to isolate two populations, which differ in both shape and size, from a polydisperse sub-micron TiO2 powder of homogenous density. The fraction eluted first is spherical with an average diameter of 0.31 μm while the second fraction is ellipsoidal and can be associated with a 0.45 μm hydrodynamic diameter. Elution conditions appeared to be very sensitive to electrolyte and surfactant characteristics in the carrier phase as well as on the sample concentration. Using 25 μl (1%, w/w) sample suspension, separations of spherical from ovoid particles was performed in almost 2 h with a mobile phase of 0.001 M KNO3–0.01% (v/v) Fl-70 in water in a 0.025-cm thick channel made of polystyrene walls.