Light scattering instruments: Tired of constant sample compatibility checks?
Buying clothes online always sounds like a convenient approach – but when each brand has a different sizing system, it can be frustrating to have to check the size guide for every item in every store. Likewise, when purchasing a light-scattering instrument, you want reassurance that your samples will ‘fit’, without having to ask an expert every single time.
Since the success of your experiment relies on the exact nature of your sample, it’s well worth taking the time to make sure you invest in a system that can handle a wide range of sample types.
Challenging sample types …
Non-standard particles can be hard for some instruments to measure or can skew the results. The movement of very large particles, for instance, can obscure the Brownian motion responsible for scattering. Non-spherical particles are not always accounted for in conventional dynamic light scattering (DLS) measuring systems, and fluorescent particles cause more ‘noise’ in the data.
Meanwhile, samples with a very low particle concentration need extra-sensitive measuring instruments. At the other end of the scale, highly concentrated or opaque solutions produce multiple light-scattering effects that makes measuring tricky.
Finally, while certain particles (such as proteins and some polymers) can be degraded by an electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) electric field, others can affect the performance of the instrument itself: those with high conductivity, for example, which can create ion build-up on the electrodes and reduce the current.
… and how to handle them
In a busy lab, you don’t want to have to check compatibility every time you introduce a new sample type to your instrument – but you do want to be sure you’re getting accurate and precise results, no matter what you’re analyzing.
At Malvern Panalytical, we have solutions for all kinds of challenging samples, keeping your operations running smoothly and efficiently. We’ve developed our Zetasizer systems to be as versatile as possible: as well as combining both DLS and ELS in a single instrument, they’re compatible with samples of all different types.
Our Depolarized DLS technique, for example, can overcome the difficulties of non-spherical particles by comparing the polarization to what would be expected from a spherical particle. Zetasizer instruments also allow you to bring a narrow bandwidth filter into the optical path and filter out fluorescence. We can help set you up with a low-volume capillary cell for large particles, or a folded capillary cell and our diffusion barrier technique to prevent damage to your field-sensitive samples. And our non-invasive backscatter (NIBS) technology allows you to take optimized measurements for opaque, low-concentration, and high-concentration samples with no fuss.
Our solutions
These are just some of the ways in which our Zetasizer instruments can support you, thanks to Malvern Panalytical’s cutting-edge features and innovative technologies. With our light-scattering instruments, you can be sure of high-quality analysis for even your most unusual samples. Forget the complicated size guides – turn to the Zetasizer range as your one-size-fits-all solution!
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