3D characterization of natural colloids by FlFFF-MALLS-TEM

Mohammed Baalousha (1) , Franck V.D Kammer (2) , Mikael Motelica-Heino (3) , Philippe Le Coustumer (1)

1 CDGA
2 Technical University Hamburg Harburg [Hamburg]
3 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

Understanding the role of colloids in the environment needs a more complete characterization of their size and shape than the usually used hydrodynamic diameter. A novel methodology to determine three dimensional description of colloids has been successfully experimented in this work by coupling Flow-Field Flow Fractionation (FlFFF) to Multi Angle Laser Light Scattering (MALLS), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). This methodology was evaluated for a soil colloidal sample. Results show that, the particles surface areas determined by FlFFF-MALLS-TEM, are 3–4 times greater than those calculated using the hydrodynamic diameter determined by FlFFF. Further, results indicated that, the surface area/volume values are 3–5 times greater than those calculated based on the hydrodynamic diameter. Therefore, a correction factor must be applied when the particle surface area is calculated from the hydrodynamic diameter determined by FlFFF.

Mots clés: FlFFF MALLS TEM Natural colloids 3D characterization

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement; Planète et Univers [physics]

Mohammed Baalousha, Franck V.D Kammer, Mikael Motelica-Heino, Philippe Le Coustumer. 3D characterization of natural colloids by FlFFF-MALLS-TEM . Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2005, 383 (4), pp.549-556. ⟨10.1007/s00216-005-0006-9⟩. ⟨hal-01335352⟩