Rapid particle size analysis of ground minerals by flow/hyperlayer field-flow fractionation

Flow/hyperlayer field-flow fractionation (flow/hyperlayer FFF), a recently developed method capable of the rapid separation of particles over 1 μm in diameter according to their size, was applied to the characterization of ground coal and limestone samples. The results of the analysis were found to be consistent and reproducible, in agreement with those obtained from microscopic examination and from the elution profiles of latex particle standards. The results were also in agreement with particle size distributions obtained by laser light scattering. The validity of the size-dependent but density-independent separation by flow/hyperlayer FFF was demonstrated by the comparison of elution profiles for ground coal, ground limestone, glass beads, and polystyrene latex samples, which differ substantially in density. These results show that flow/hyperlayer FFF is a promising tool for the size analysis of ground minerals and similar particulate materials, perhaps even in a process control environment.