Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Anal Bioanal Chem. 2012 Sep;404(4):1151-8. doi: 10.1007/s00216-012-6069-5. Epub 2012 May 10.
Field-flow fractionation (FFF) separates analytes by use of an axial channel-flow and a cross-field. Its soft separation capability makes it an ideal tool for initial fractionation of complex mixtures, but large elution volumes and high flow rates have limited its applicability without significant user handling. Recent advances in instrumentation and miniaturization have successfully reduced channel size and elution speed, and thus the volume of each fraction, making it possible to conveniently couple FFF with orthogonal separation techniques for improved resolution. More detailed analysis can also be performed on the fractions generated by FFF by use of diverse analytical techniques, including MS, NMR, and even X-ray scattering. These developmental trends have given FFF more power in the analysis of different types of molecule, and will be the direction of choice for further advances in FFF technology.
场流分离（FFF）通过使用轴向通道流和横向场来分离分析物。其软分离能力使其成为复杂混合物初步分离的理想工具，但大洗脱体积和高流速在没有显著用户处理的情况下限制了其适用性。仪器和小型化的最新进展成功地减小了通道尺寸和洗脱速度，从而减小了每个馏分的体积，使得可以方便地将 FFF 与正交分离技术结合使用以提高分辨率。还可以使用各种分析技术（包括 MS、NMR，甚至 X 射线散射）对 FFF 生成的馏分进行更详细的分析。这些发展趋势使 FFF 在分析不同类型的分子方面更具威力，并且将成为 FFF 技术进一步发展的选择方向。
