Pinch Field-Flow Fractionation Using Flow Injection Techniques

Abstract

Flow injection techniques have been used almost exclusively for chemical analysis of homogeneous samples. On the other hand, field-flow fractionation is designed to separate phases in a flowing heterogeneous sample through their differing response to applied force fields. In this work we show that controlled phase separation can be achieved and successfully modeled in flow injection systems. The force that separates the phases is generated intrinsically within the flow tube by the inertial effects of the flow itself.