Device and method of simultaneously measuring the light scattering from multiple liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids

Apparatus including a light scattering device for conducting simultaneous multi-sample light scattering comprising:

• a) a source of collimated or focused light;
• b) at least two sub-chambers, each of which can hold an independent liquid sample comprising a solution containing polymers and/or colloids, and each of which can be simultaneously irradiated by incident light from the source of collimated or focused light, the light scattered by the sample in each of which is detected for analysis;
• c) light detection means optically coupled to the sub-chambers;
• and
• d) means for determining at least one of the following characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids in the liquid samples:
• relative mass;
• absolute mass;
• spatial dimensions;
• sizes;
• shapes;
• interactions;
• concentration;
• and hydrodynamic properties.

Apparatus including a light scattering device for conducting simultaneous multi-sample light scattering comprising:

• a) a lighting device comprising a plurality of sources of collimated or focused light;
• b) at least two sub-chambers, each of which can hold an independent liquid sample comprising a solution containing polymers and/or colloids and each of which can be simultaneously irradiated by incident light from the lighting device, the light scattered by the sample in each of which is detected for analysis;
• c) light detection means optically coupled to the sub-chambers;
• and
• d) means for determining at least one of the following characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids in the liquid samples:
• relative mass;
• absolute mass;
• spatial dimensions;
• sizes;
• shapes;
• interactions;
• concentration;
• and hydrodynamic properties.

Apparatus including a light scattering device for conducting simultaneous multi-sample light scattering comprising:

• a) a source of collimated or focused light;
• b) at least two sub-chambers, each of which can hold an independent liquid sample comprising a solution containing polymers and/or colloids, and each of which can be irradiated by incident light from the source of collimated or focused light, the light scattered by the sample in each of which is detected for analysis;
• c) light detection means sensitive enough to detect single scattering from the samples, the light detection means being optically coupled to the sub-chambers;
• d) a computer for analyzing data from the light detection means;
• and
• e) means for determining at least one of the following characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids in the liquid samples:
• relative mass;
• absolute mass;
• spatial dimensions;
• sizes;
• shapes;
• interactions;
• concentration;
• and hydrodynamic properties.

Apparatus for conducting simultaneous multi-sample light scattering comprising:

• (a) a plurality of chamber means, for containing liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids, in which single light scattering can occur;
• (b) light source means for providing collimated, focused, or partially focused light to be scattered to the chamber means;
• (c) light detectors optically coupled to the chamber means for detecting scattered light, the light detectors being sensitive enough to detect single scattering from the chambers;
• and
• (d) transmission means for transmitting information from the light detectors to a computer for analysis;
• and
• (e) means for determining at least one of the following characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids in the liquid samples:
• relative mass;
• absolute mass;
• spatial dimensions;
• sizes;
• shapes;
• interactions;
• concentration;
• and hydrodynamic properties.

A method of performing simultaneous multi-sample light scattering, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of chamber means in which light scattering can occur;
• (b) placing liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids in the chamber means;
• (c) providing collimated, focused, or partially focused light to be scattered to the chamber means;
• (d) detecting light scattered in the chamber means with light detectors optically coupled to the chamber means, the light detectors being sensitive enough to detect single scattering from the chambers;
• and
• (e) transmitting information from the light detectors to a computer for analysis.

A method of performing simultaneous multi-sample light scattering, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of chamber means in which light scattering can occur;
• (b) placing liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids in the chamber means;
• (c) providing collimated, focused, or partially focused light to be scattered to the chamber means from a single light source;
• and
• (d) detecting light scattered in the chamber means with light detectors optically coupled to the chamber means.

A method of performing simultaneous multi-sample light scattering, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of chamber means in which light scattering can occur;
• (b) placing liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids in the chamber means;
• (c) providing light to be scattered to the chamber means from a device comprising a plurality of sources of collimated or focused light;
• and
• (d) detecting light scattered in the chamber means with light detectors optically coupled to the chamber means.

A method of performing simultaneous multi-sample light scattering, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of chamber means in which light scattering can occur;
• (b) placing liquid samples containing polymers and/or colloids in the chamber means;
• (c) providing collimated, focused, or partially focused light to be scattered to the chamber means;
• (d) detecting light scattered in the chamber means with light detectors optically coupled to the chamber means, the light detectors being sensitive enough to detect single scattering from the chamber means;
• and
• (e) transmitting information from the light detectors to a single computer for analysis.

A method of performing simultaneous multi-sample light scattering, including:

• providing a light scattering chamber consisting of two or more sub-chambers;
• receiving an independent liquid sample solution in at least two of the sub-chambers;
• irradiating each sub-chamber having an independent sample solution with incident collimated, focused, or partially focused light;
• detecting the light scattered by the sample in each sub-chamber with light detector means sensitive enough to detect single scattering from the sub-chambers.