Development of multidimensional analysis of particulate systems using analytical centrifugation

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Peukert
• Subject Area: Mechanical Process Engineering
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 369794822

The synthesis and application of complex particle systems, whose properties depend on their size, shape and composition, is getting more and more in the focus of science and technology. Therefore, particle characterization plays a central role, whereas established methods like dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy either have a lack in resolution as well as accuracy or are laborious and time-consuming. Accordingly, aim of the present project is the establishment of analytical centrifugation (AC) as a standard measurement routine with high accuracy and unrivaled resolution in the field of particle technology. AC has some clear advantages over the aforementioned established characterization methods, for instance the absolute measurement principle and the possibility for the simultaneous characterization of up to twelve samples. The focus of this project is the multidimensional characterization of particle properties, e.g. size and shape or size and density, for particle sizes from 10 nm up to 100 µm. To achieve this goal, not only new measurement and evaluation methods but also improvements of the present AC setup are required. By developing a new rotor setup for AC, the industrial partner LUM GmbH will improve the temperature control during the measurements. Thus, the influence of temperature instabilities is minimized and the measurement accuracy will be clearly enhanced. Furthermore, LUM GmbH will develop and optimize sector shaped cuvettes that are required for two-dimensional particle analysis. Meanwhile, the evaluation of the measurement range in terms of particle size, density and concentration covered by AC will be performed at the institute of the applicant. Due to the well-defined measurement range, the user can estimate whether AC is appropriate for characterizing the specific sample. Afterwards the sector shaped cuvettes will be used for the simultaneous determination of two particle properties, i.e. particle size and shape as well as particle size and density. In addition, measurement techniques and evaluation protocols for the two-dimensional particle analysis which are already known in the field of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) will be transferred to AC and carefully established. Thus, by means of this project the complete capability of AUC for multidimensional particle analysis gets accessible for AC. By implementing all developed methods into the existing software of LUM GmbH, comprehensive methods of sedimentation analysis with high resolution will be available for a wide range of users from science and technology.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Application Partner: LUM GmbH