Particle Concentration precise analysis using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)

Particle concentration, in addition to particle size and zeta potential, is often of interest to determine how many particles are dispersed in a liquid or how many particles are present per size class. This information is very useful, for example, to determine the therapeutic window of a drug in the pharmaceutical industry or an indication of opacity in inks or paints. These are only a few examples, many more applications exist.

With Microtrac's Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analyzer series NANOTRAC it is now possible not only to measure particle size, molecular weight, and zeta potential, but also to obtain additional information about particle concentration. The different models of the Nanotrac series are shown in the picture below.

Dynamische Lichtverstrooiing - particle size and zeta potential analysis

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How is the particle concentration determined?

The unique optical design of the Nanotrac series with the 180° self-amplifying heterodyne reference method has a 10⁶ times better signal-to-noise ratio than PCS instruments. A fast Fourier transform of the signal amplified by the reflected laser results in a linear frequency power spectrum, which is converted to a logarithmic power spectrum.

The additional information of the particle concentration is accessible using this power spectrum and the resulting Loading Index (LI). The power spectrum is shown in the figure. The Loading Index is the sum of the amplitudes of all logarithmic frequency channels and depends on the particle concentration. Few particles show a low Loading Index, a high concentration results in a high Loading Index.

To calculate the particle concentration, the "Mode" analysis in the SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) must be selected. When using this analysis method, the power spectrum is divided into different modes. Thus, a Loading Index can be calculated from each individual mode internally and assigned to individual fractions. In this way, the concentration of individual particle fractions can also be determined.

The classification of the modes and the assignment to the particle fractions takes place fully automatically. Depending on the selected particle size representation, the concentration is displayed in cubic centimetres per millilitre (cc/ml), which would be the case for an intensity weighted or volume weighted size representation. For a number-based size representation, the concentration is reported in number of particles per millilitre (N/ml).

Concentration Measurement / Calculation with the Nanotrac Series - Figure 2 — Power spectrum and loading index of a bimodal particle dispersion.

Particle Concentration Toepassingsvoorbeelden

As an example for the described measurement of particle concentration, the particle size distribution of a mix consisting of 30 nm and 200 nm particles is shown below. The chart shows the data and size distribution of the intensity-based plot.

Concentration Measurement / Calculation with the Nanotrac Series - Figure 3

_{Size distribution in the intensity weighted representation of 30 and 200 nm latex particles.}

This figure shows the number-weighted particle size distribution, which can be calculated from the intensity-based plot shown in the previous figure. The particle concentration of the 200 nm particles is still output in the number distribution, although the percentage of the total number is so small that it is no longer visible in the distribution curve.

Concentration Measurement / Calculation with the Nanotrac Series - Figure 4

_{Size distribution in the number weighted representation of 30 and 200 nm latex particles.}

The determination of particle concentration works for monomodal or multimodal size distributions. This figure shows an example of a trimodal sample in the intensity weighted size representation. It consists of three fractions of 26 nm, 216 nm and 1.8 µm.

The concentration of the 200 nm fraction remains constant with 1.39∙10-4 cc/ml and 1.34∙10-4 cc/ml, because only a 2 µm standard was added to the first bimodal sample. The concentration of the 30 nm fraction also remains constant with 1.01∙10-2 cc/ml and 1.10∙10-2 cc/m

Concentration Measurement / Calculation with the Nanotrac Series - Figure 5

_{Size distribution and concentration of a trimodal sample consisting of 26 nm, 216 nm and 1.8 µm fractions. The plot shown is the intensity weighted plot.}

These charts show the particle concentration and size distribution in intensity and number of a 100 nm standard as the simplest example.

Concentration Measurement / Calculation with the Nanotrac Series - Figure 6 — Intensity and number weighted size representation of a 100 nm standard.

Summary

With the Nanotrac series, in addition particle size analysis, the particle concentration of a dispersion or emulsion can be calculated from the same measurement run, providing additional information about the sample which is useful for many applications. This is possible due to the unique optical design and the use of the power spectrum by a Fast Fourier Transformation.

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Dynamische Lichtverstrooiing (DLS) - Deeltjes Analyser

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