Field-Flow Fractionation Turns 60! – Come Celebrate at iSFFF 2026

Sixty years ago, J. Calvin Giddings introduced field-flow fractionation to the world.¹ The idea of a one-phase separation method, where separation was aided by the application of a transverse field, would prove revolutionary. Over the next six decades, the variety of fields employed would astound, from heat, flow, electricity, and magnetism, to light and even sound. Nowadays, fields are even used in combination with each other, as is the case in electrical asymmetric flow FFF. These, combined with a multiplicity of on-line detectors, have all served to better inform our knowledge of the physicochemical properties of materials, macromolecular and otherwise, as they influence processing and end-use or illuminate the road to more effective synthetic routes.

After a half-day of workshops and a welcome reception, iSFFF 2026 attendees will be treated to three days of talks and posters by leaders in the field and practitioners at all levels, including students and postdocs. The conference will focus on both traditional areas of FFF and on newer analytical areas and technical approaches. Registration and abstract submission are currently open, and we are accepting high-quality abstracts for posters and oral presentations on:

1. Synthetic and natural polymers
2. Biomacromolecules
3. Colloids
4. Micro- and nano-plastics
5. Industrial, biotech, and pharmaceutical applications
6. Instrumentation, hyphenated techniques, machine learning
7. Standardization and regulatory developments

This list is not limiting; contributions in other areas where researchers have demonstrated advancement of FFF technology are most certainly also welcome. Young scientists, especially students, are highly encouraged to submit abstracts, as prizes will be awarded for the best student talks and posters!

The meeting will be in downtown Washington, DC, at the Herbert C. Hoover Building. This is a great venue, located across the street (literally) from the Smithsonian Museums and the National Mall, a pedestrian promenade bordered by monuments and many museums with free admission to the public, making this a wonderful conference to bring your family along.

Registration includes access to short courses/workshops, oral and poster presentations, lunches, breaks, welcome reception – and FFF birthday party!

Information about the conference, including registration and abstract submission, can be found at www.isfff20206.org So, come join us in Washington, DC this May 17-20 to celebrate the 60^th birthday of Field-Flow Fractionation!

References

1. Giddings, J. C. A New Separation Concept Based on a Coupling of Concentration and Flow Nonuniformities. Sep. Sci. 1966, 1 (1), 123–125. DOI: 10.1080/01496396608049439