Chromatography of Suspensions, An Absolute Particle Size Detector Based on Turbidity-spectra Analysis - a Simulation Study

In the chromatography of particle suspensions the use of a variable wavelength spectrophotometer can provide turbidity spectra continuously with retention volume. As suggested by Hamielec [1] this device could form the basis for an absolute particle size detector provided the size distribution in the detector cell could be represented by a known distribution function. In this work it is shown that the two parameter log-normal distribution function is an adequate representation of the detector cell contents. Further a computational scheme is outlined whereby the distribution parameters and the number of particles in the detector cell are calculated as a function of retention volume. It is then possible to obtain size distribution information of the original suspension.