Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation of hydrophobic colloids: Errors in the estimated particle size distribution--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Clementi, L. A., Artetxe, Z., Aguirreurreta, Z., Agirre, A., Leiza, J. R., Gugliotta, L. M., & Vega, J. R. (2014). Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation of hydrophobic colloids: Errors in the estimated particle size distribution. Particuology, 17, 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2014.02.007

Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation of hydrophobic colloids: Errors in the estimated particle size distribution

Luis A. Clementi ^{a b}, Zohartze Artetxe ^c, Ziortza Aguirreurreta ^c, Amaia Agirre ^c, José R. Leiza ^c, Luis M. Gugliotta ^a, Jorge R. Vega ^{a b *}

a INTEC (CONICET and Universidad Nacional del Litoral), Güemes 3450 (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina b FRSF-UTN (Facultad Regional Santa Fe-Universidad Tecnológica Nacional), Lavaisse 610 (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina c POLYMAT, Kimika Aplikatua Saila, Kimika Zientzien Fakultatea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Zentroa, Tolosa Hiribidea 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

10.1016/j.partic.2014.02.007

Volume 17, December 2014, Pages 97-105

Received 12 November 2013, Revised 3 February 2014, Accepted 16 February 2014, Available online 20 May 2014.

E-mail: jvega@santafe-conicet.gov.ar; jorgerubenvega@gmail.com

Highlights

• Three error sources were investigated in estimating particle size distribution by CHDF.

• Small error in diameter calibration can produce large deviation in the estimated average diameter.

• Error in particle refractive index can affect the estimated mode number concentration.

• Instrumental broadening correction can produce PSDs with underestimated width and distorted shape.

• Simulated and experimental examples were used to quantify the errors.

Abstract

Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation (CHDF) with turbidity detection at a single wavelength is an analytical technique that is often used for sizing the sub-micrometric particles of hydrophobic colloids. This article investigates three sources of errors that affect the particle size distribution (PSD) estimated by CHDF: diameter calibration errors, uncertainties in the particle refractive index (PRI), and instrumental broadening (IB). The study is based on simulated and experimental examples that involve unimodal and bimodal PSDs. Small errors in the diameter calibration curve can produce important deviations in the number average diameter due to systematic shifts suffered by the PSD modes. Moderate uncertainties in the PRI are unimportant in the analysis of unimodal PSDs, but in the specific case of bimodal PSDs, errors in the PRI can strongly affect the estimated number concentration of each mode. The typical IB correction (based on the IB function estimated from narrow standards) produces slightly erroneous average diameters but can lead to PSDs with underestimated widths and distorted shapes. In practice, the three investigated sources of errors can be present simultaneously, and uncertainties in the average diameters, the shape and width of the PSD, and the number concentration of the PSD modes are unavoidable.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Particle size distribution; Capillary hydrodynamic fractionation; Nanoparticle; Particle refractive index; Instrumental broadening

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