Overview of field-flow fractionation

Foremost among J.C. Gidding's many contributions to separation science is the invention and development of field-flow fractionation. This article is a nonmathematical overview of field-flow fractionation with a discussion of general principles and the basic subtechniques of this separation method. A brief review is given of some of the molecular and particle separations and characterizations which have been and are currently being used which illustrate the broad potential of this method. Since field-flow fractionation requires small samples for optimum performance, the use of SPLITT for obtaining sized materials in up to gram quantities is also discussed.