Size fractionation and characterisation of fresh water colloids and particles: split-flow thin-cell and electron microscopy analyses.

Split-flow thin-cell (SPLITT) was employed in conventional mode (CSF), to size-fractionate colloids and particles from a selected freshwater. Imaging and quantification by calculations of particle size distributions (PSDs) and shape factors were performed on sample analyzed by conventional high vacuum scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and environmental SEM (ESEM), to investigate the ability of SPLITT to make accurate and nonperturbing separations. SEM and ESEM images of unperturbed and SPLITT-generated fractions were used in order to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the properties of colloids and particles. Particle size distributions (PSDs) showed that separations were very good, agreeing with theoretical behavior. ESEM PSDs showed that up to 87-88% of the material in the a fraction (expected to be <1 microm) was in fact less than 1 microm and in the b fraction (>1 microm) 87-95% of the material was the expected size. The SEM data indicated a slightly higher contamination of the b fraction with the presence of submicron colloids. Moreover, analysis of conformations indicated significant nonsphericity in unfractionated colloids and particles, but after SPLITT fractionation, shape factors showed that particles were significantly more spherical than before separation.