Field-flow fractionation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: past, present, and future

The hyphenated technique of field-flow fractionation (FFF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is reviewed. FFF-ICP-MS provides unique information on elemental composition across size or molecular weight distributions. In the early stages of FFF-ICP-MS development, the technique was found to be useful for environmental applications. With the growth of nanotechnology, FFF-ICP-MS has gained increasing interest. The historical background of FFF-ICP-MS is summarized herein, including the key points reported in other previous reviews. Applications of FFF-ICP-MS are also reviewed to illustrate the potential of the technique for environmental colloids and nanoparticles. Finally, the future prospects for FFF-ICP-MS are considered.