An overview on field-flow fractionation techniques and their applications in the separation and characterization of polymers

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a family of analytical techniques developed specifically for separating and characterizing macromolecules, supramolecular assemblies, colloids and particles. It combines the effects of a laminar flow profile with an exponential concentration profile of analyte components caused by their interactions with a physical field applied perpendicular to the flow of a carrier liquid. FFF is undergoing increasingly widespread use as researchers learn of its potential and versatility. This overview underlines the basic principle and theory behind FFF and reviews recent research efforts incorporating flow and thermal FFF methods to characterize natural, biological, and synthetic polymers. These FFF techniques will be discussed in terms of theory and practice. Selected applications of FFF and their coupling capability with other chromatographic techniques or spectrometric detection for the separation and characterization of polymers in organic and aqueous media are presented.