ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 36, Number 3
JKCSEZ 36(3)
June 20, 1992 

The performance of homemade thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) and the optimization for separation are investigated in terms of retention parameters and selectivity using polystyrene standards. The ribbonlike channel was constructed by sandwiching two Mylar spacers between two highly polished copper bars which serve as channel walls. The hot bar was heated by two electrical cartridge heaters and the cold bar had holes through the entire length, allowing tap water as coolant to enter. It has been observed that the retention of polystyrenes increases as the temperature gradient increases. And the retention decreases as the cold wall temperature increases from 20 to 45℃. In comparison with size exclusion chromatography, ThFFF is more selective but has relatively low efficiency. It has been found that the plate height is proportional to the flow velocity and good estimates of polydispersities can be made directly from the ThFFF data.