Released on: May 22, 2008, 3:31 am

Press Release Author: The Scott Partnership

Industry:

Press Release Summary: SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA (May 21, 2008) - Wyatt Technology
Corporation, the
world leader in absolute macromolecular characterization instrumentation and
software, announces its instruments have been chosen by a group of Czech
scientists for polymer characterization. Researchers from SYNPO, a research
institute for synthetic resins and coatings and the Institute of Polymeric
Materials, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, selected Wyatt\'s
instrumentation over a host of competing equipment to study the
characterization of molar mass distribution of synthetic and natural
polymers. The researchers combined Wyatt Technology\'s Eclipse--a
state-of-the-art separation system--with the DAWN MALS photometer, to
generate a powerful and versatile A4F (Asymmetric Flow Field Fractionation)
tool for polymer analysis and characterization.

Press Release Body: SYNPO & University of Pardubice Demonstrate Wyatt Technology\'s
A4F-MALS
Technique is a Powerful Method for Polymer Characterization

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA (May 21, 2008) - Wyatt Technology Corporation, the
world leader in absolute macromolecular characterization instrumentation and
software, announces its instruments have been chosen by a group of Czech
scientists for polymer characterization. Researchers from SYNPO, a research
institute for synthetic resins and coatings and the Institute of Polymeric
Materials, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, selected Wyatt\'s
instrumentation over a host of competing equipment to study the
characterization of molar mass distribution of synthetic and natural
polymers. The researchers combined Wyatt Technology\'s Eclipse--a
state-of-the-art separation system--with the DAWN MALS photometer, to
generate a powerful and versatile A4F (Asymmetric Flow Field Fractionation)
tool for polymer analysis and characterization.

There is a burgeoning interest in the development of powerful and convenient
separation techniques. A4F is one type of field flow fractionation (FFF)
separation technique. Unlike size exclusion chromatography (SEC) where the
development of instrumentation has been driven by other liquid
chromatographic techniques, commercially available and reliable FFF
instruments were, until recently, largely unavailable. Knowledge of the
properties of polymers, and polymeric systems, is of fundamental importance
in the pharmaceutical sciences and the new generation of A4F instruments
bring new possibilities for the separation of various polymers, proteins and
particles with several advantages over traditionally employed SEC.

For this application, an A4F-MALS instrumental set-up consisting of the
Wyatt Eclipse and a Wyatt DAWN photometer was compared with a SEC-MALS
set-up composed of a Wyatt miniDAWN. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as the
mobile phase for both SEC and A4F experiments, at SEC flow rate and A4F
channel flow rate of 1 mL/min. Samples were injected as solutions in THF
(for polymers typically 100µL of about 0.2 % w/v). Results demonstrated the
ability of A4F to provide a polymer separation quite comparable with SEC.
The cumulative molar mass distribution plots obtained by the two techniques
almost overlay, which proves identical separation efficiency of A4F and SEC.

The possible advantages of A4F over SEC include a broad separation range
accessible by a single channel, the elimination of polymer interactions with
column packing and the efficient separation of branched polymers. A further
important feature of A4F is the ability to separate macromolecules over a
very broad range of molar masses without the need to change separation
conditions. Additionaly, various nanoparticles have achieved great
popularity among material chemists, as materials with great potential to
enhance various polymer properties. The size distribution of nanoparticles
can be determined by A4F-MALS.

This application demonstrates that the A4F-MALS combined technique can serve
as a routine method of polymer analysis and characterization. A4F provides
separation efficiency entirely comparable with traditional dominating SEC
methods. In addition, it yields superior separation of branched polymers,
polymers containing ultra high molar mass fractions up to at least 108
g/mol, and nanoparticles.

For more information on the Wyatt A4F-MALS system please visit www.wyatt.com
or e-mail info@wyatt.com

###

About Wyatt
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Wyatt Technology is the world\'s leading
provider of instruments for absolute macromolecular characterization. With
over 35 years\' experience developing multi-angle light scattering detectors,
working with customers in the biotechnology, chemical, petrochemical,
pharmaceutical, academic and government arenas, Wyatt prides itself on its
entrepreneurial spirit, and the uniqueness of its offerings. The Company\'s
groundbreaking technology and uncompromising levels of customer care make
Wyatt the global hallmark in its field. For more information, please visit
www.wyatt.com

For further press information please contact: Laura Browne, The Scott
Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. CW4 8AA
United Kingdom Tel: + 44 1477 539539 Fax: +44 1477 539540 mail to:
wyatt@scottmail.com


Web Site: http://

Contact Details: Laura Browne, The Scott
Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. CW4 8AA
United Kingdom Tel: + 44 1477 539539 Fax: +44 1477 539540 mail to:
wyatt@scottmail.com