Laboratory Instrumentation and Capabilities

The instrumentation in the Particle Size and Characterization Lab falls under two categories which correspond to their size ranges and capabilities.

1nm - 10µm

Wyatt DynaPro NanoStar (DLS) - Dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) or Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering (QELS) is a method for determining the hydrodynamic radius distribution of a solution containing suspended particles from less than 1nm up to around 10µm for monodispersed non-aggregated particle populations.

Wyatt Mobiuζ (DLS-PALS) - DLS with capability to measure the electrophoretic mobility of particles, which can be used to calculate zeta potential and surface charge of a particle population from <1nm up to around 10µm for monodispersed non-aggregated particle populations.

1µm – 5mm

Sympatec HELOS/KF - Laser diffractometer with fixed optics and dynamically focusing detector array for measuring particles from just below 1 micrometer up to 1600 micrometers.

Liquid and dry particle dispersion available using Sympatec CUVETTE and RODOS/L particle dispersers.

Sympatec QICPIC - Real time optical image analyzer with 450hz camera for measuring particle sizes from 3 micrometers up to around 5 millimeters, which can also do additional analyzes relating to aspect ratio and shape of the particles (such as sphericity).

The lab also has a Shimadzu TOC-L/SSM system for measuring total carbon in solution and solids, as well as a Brooks-Rand MERX system for measuring total and methylated mercury content in solution and solids.