U12. Nanostructured liquid characterization unit

U12-E10. Optilab rEX Differential Refractometer

Description:
The Optilab® rEX (refractometer with EXtended range) is a Refractive Index measurement system. It has a flow cell with a total volume of only 7.4 µL. This translates into minimized band broadening and better temperature stability. It can measure the absolute refractive index of a solution. In addition, it can measure the dn/dc of a solvent at a fixed wavelength. The light source in the rEX can be replaced for other wavelengths (e.g. 690, 633, 488 nm, etc.). The temperature can be programmed from 4°C to 50°C. It is compatible with all HPLC systems.

Applications:
Refractive Index determination, mainly of liquid samples, can be useful in measurements of other techniques (Dynamic Light Scattering as an example). It can be also possible to calculate the refraction index as a function of concentration for a compound. This can allow you to determine the purity or concentration of the compound which is dissolved in a liquid.

$U12-E10. Optilab rEX Differential Refractometer$

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U12-E09 Sigma 701 force tensiometer (Biolin Scientific) for the measurement of surface and interfacial tensions, wettability and critical micelar concentration

Description:
High resolution force tensiometer with software for control, acquisition and data treatment for the measurement of surface and interfacial tensions, as well as the automatic determination of critical micellar concentrations. It is equipped with Wilhelmy plate and Du Nouy ring accessories. It can also measure contact angle on powder samples (Washburn method)

Applications:
Surface and interfacial tension determination of liquid systems. Contact angle determination of liquids on single fibers (fiber diameter greater than 20 mm), solid (cylindrical or plate shapes) and porous materials (cylindrical or plate shapes).

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U12-E08. Contact angle goniometer and drop shape analyzer

Description:
Electrobalance for determination of surface tensions (liquid/gas) and interfacial tensions (liquid/liquid) porpoises.

Applications:
Determination of surface tensions (liquid/gas) and interfacial tension (liquid/liquid).

U12-E08. K12 tensiometer with Wilhelmy plate and du Noüy ring (Krüss)

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U12-E07. SITE Spinning Drop Interfacial Tensiometer

Description:
Instrument for determination of liquid-liquid interfacial tensions by the spinning drop method

Applications:
Determination of ultra-low interfacial tensions (up to 10^-5 mN.m^-1) in colloidal liquid-liquid biphasic systems at controlled temperature.

U12-E07. SITE Spinning Drop Interfacial Tensiometer

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U12-E06. S3 Micro SAXS/WAXS Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Spectrometer

Description:
S3 MICRO instrument (Hecus X-ray Systems, Graz, Austria) for determinations of X-ray scattered intensity as a function of scattering angle. This instrument is equipped with a GENIX microfocus X-ray source and a FOX 2D point-focusing element (both from Xenocs, Grenoble). It can measure simultaneously at small angle (0,2º-8º) and wide angle (18º-28º).

Applications:
Structural characterization of materials within the nanometer range. This includes determination of symmetry, morphology, characteristic size, fractal dimension and surface area. These studies can be applied to liquid crystals, micellar aggregates, mesoporous materials, nanoparticles, proteins and nanostructured films.

U12-E06. S3 Micro SAXS/WAXS Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Spectrometer

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U12-E05. Mastersizer 2000 Light Diffractometer

Description:
Instrument Mastersizer 2000 that measures by means of laser diffraction the size and distribution of particles or droplets in suspension. It is equipped with a liquid dispersing unit for small volume (Hydro 2000G) to measure emulsions, dispersions, etc. and a solid dispersion unit (Scirocco) to analyse dried powders. It is equipped with a software (windows operated) for the data processing to obtain the characteristic size (droplet, particle) and its distribution.

Applications:
Determination of the droplet/particle diameter for emulsions, suspensions and solid samples (powder) in the range of 100 nm – 2000 mm. The results are expressed in standard percentiles D(v,0.1), D(v0.5), D(v0.9), mean volume diameter (D[4,3]), mean surface diameter (Sauter mean diameter, D[3,2]), specific surface area (SSA), etc.

$U12-E05. Mastersizer 2000 Light Diffractometer$

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U12-E03. AR-G2 Rheometer

Description:
Rheometer with magnetic bearings which allows measuring torques down to 0.003 N.m. It can perform either stress controlled or strain controlled measurements. The angular velocity range is 2×10^-7 to 628 rad/s. The maximum measurable torque is 200 mN.m, with a resolution of 0.1 nN.m. Several geometries are available, such as concentric cylinders, cone-plate, plate-plate (different sizes) and also cross hatched plates which are suitable to measure gel samples. Temperature is controlled with a Peltier system (from -20ºC to 200ºC) and with a Upper heating plate device. There is also an interfacial rheometry accessory. The instrument’s software enables to perform a wide variety of tests and analyses.

Applications:
Determination of viscosities from flow curves (stress vs shear rate); estimation of storage (elastic) modulus and loss (viscous) modulus, creep assays, temperature ramps; Determination of gel and glass points; Estimation of interfacial viscosity and moduli.

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U12-E02. CytoViva Hyperspectral Imaging System (HSI)

Description:
The instrument combines enhanced dark field optical microscopy with high resolution spectral imaging. These integrated technologies have been designed to allow optical observation and spectral characterization of nanomaterials and cell matrices. There is no need of sample preparation in advance or fluorescent labeling to observe or characterize spectroscopically nanomaterials in complex media.

Applications:
Quantitative spectral analysis of nanomaterials, characterization of surfaces and functional groups bound to nanomaterials, spectral characterization of biological samples .

U12-E02. CytoViva Hyperspectral Imaging System (HSI)

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U12-E01. 3D cross-correlation dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectrometer

Description:
Photon Correlation Spectrometer (PCS) for dynamic (DLS) and static (SLS) light scattering measurements for angles in the 20-140º range and capacity of suppressing multiple scattering thanks to the 3D-cross correlation technology (down to 5% of transmission for sub-micrometer sample thickness). The instrument is equipped with a He-Ne laser and its software allows the estimation of particle size by Cumulant or CONTIN analysis. It is also possible to measure non-ergodic samples with a rotating sample holder.

Applications:
Determination of particle size and shape, size distribution, etc. in colloid systems (e.g. solid dispersions, micelles, microemulsions, nano-emulsions, polymers, vesicles or liposomes) Estimation of molecular weight of polymers and interaction parameters (e.g. second virial coefficient). Estimation of gel transitions.

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U12-S01. Characterization of colloidal dispersions by Dynamic and Static Light Scattering (DLS and SLS) and Light Diffraction

Characterization of colloidal dispersions by Dynamic and Static Light Scattering (DLS and SLS) and Light Diffraction

For determination of size distribution in the 1-1000 nm range, we offer a Photon Correlation Spectrometer (PCS) for dynamic (DLS) and static (SLS) light scattering measurements for angles in the 20-140º range and capacity of suppressing multiple scattering thanks to the 3D-cross correlation technology (down to 5% of transmission for sub-micrometer sample thickness). The instrument is equipped with a He-Ne laser and its software allows the estimation of particle size by Cumulant or CONTIN analysis. It is also possible to measure non-ergodic samples with a rotating sample holder.
For determination of size distribution in the 100-10,000 nm range we offer a Mastersizer 2000 instrument that measures by means of laser diffraction the size and distribution of particles or droplets in suspension. It is equipped with a liquid dispersing unit for small volume (Hydro 2000G) to measure emulsions, dispersions, etc. and a solid dispersion unit (Scirocco) to analyse dried powders. It is equipped with a software (windows operated) for the data processing to obtain the characteristic size (droplet, particle) and its distribution.

Customer benefits

Specialized in colloidal samples
ISO9001 certification for standard quality control system
Highly qualified and continuously trained staff
Adapted to customers’ needs

The services provided by the unit are very relevant for product formulation and quality control. Applications include determination of the droplet/particle diameter for emulsions, suspensions and solid samples (powder) in the range of 100 nm – 2000 mm. The results are expressed in standard percentiles D(v,0.1), D(v0.5), D(v0.9), mean volume diameter (D[4,3]), mean surface diameter (Sauter mean diameter, D[3,2]), specific surface area (SSA), etc.

Target customer

Public research organisations, academia and industry in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetic sectors.

Additional information

For further details on the determination of the particle size by Laser Diffraction and Dynamic Light Scattering, click on the following posters:

More information can be found at https://www2.iqac.csic.es/qci/

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Characterization of colloidal dispersions by Dynamic and Static Light Scattering (DLS and SLS) and Light Diffraction