Field-Flow fractionation (FFF)

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Technology
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Technology details
Name: Field-Flow fractionation
Category:
Feedstock: Biowaste
Product: Biomass in different physicochemical fractions

Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) is a separation technology without a stationary phase for dilute suspensions. The suspensions can be fractionated according to their physicochemical properties such as charge, chemical composition, density, molar mass, and size. Beside analytical purposes the FFF can also be utilised for preparative purposes.

Feedstock

Suitable feedstocks are heterogeneous mixtures of different substances in form of dilute suspensions (solids in liquid). Depending on the applied process and technology solids can be usually separated between the nm-µm range. The FFF is usually applied to separate nanoparticles, polymers, and proteins for analytical and preparative purposes.

Process and technologies

Different variants of the FFF are available including tha Asymmetric flow FFF, centrifugal FFF, electrical FFF, split flow thin-cell fractionation (SPLITT), and thermal FFF.

Asymmetric flow FFF (AF4)

Illustration of a separation channel for asymmetric flow field-flow-fractionation.

The asymmetric flow FFF (AF4) is realised in a separation channel where an separation force ist generated in form of an asymmetric crossflow through a semipermeable membrane. The injected particles can be eluted in dependence of their physicochemical properties through a parabolic flow-profile in combination with the reduction of the crossflow.

Centrifugal FFF

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Electrical FFF

This technology combines the FFF with an electrical field as additional separation force. Besides the separation based on particle size this method adds the capability to separate particles/molecules in dependence of their charge.

Split flow thin-cell fractionation (SPLITT)

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Thermal FFF

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Product

Technology providers

Technology comparison
Company name Country City Technology category Technology name TRL Capacity [kg/h] Feedstock: Food & kitchen waste Feedstock: Garden & park waste Feedstock: Municipal waste Product: Dry biomass Max volume [L] Max mass [kg] Temperature [kg] Pressure [Bar] Gas atmosphere Evaporable substances
Company 1 Germany Cologne Freeze drying Powerdry 5000 9 0.00138 100 1 -20 0.0004 Vacuum Alcohol, Water
Company 2 France Paris Nitrogen drying Nitrodry 9 0.003 0.5 0.5 20 1 Nitrogen Alcohol, Water

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Patents

References