Light scattering data evaluation using Legendre polynomials

Calculation of the masses and the radii of gyration from static light scatt ering experiments were performed by approximating the measured angle distri butions by Legendre polynomials. The method allows a very good fit to the s cattering angle 0 degrees. In this paper the method is discussed applied to discretised theoretical form factors of several geometries as well as meas ured data of latex particles. If the sample is polydisperse, the resulting form factor is the sum of the form factors of the individual particles. An iterative method was developed , that allows the deconvolution of form factors of spherical particles from the measured form factor to give information about the polydispersity of t he sample. This form factor analysis will be discussed for experiments usin g asymmetrical Flow-Field-Flow-Fractionation (a-FFFF) of complex plant extr acts to interpret the measured form factor as the superimposition of two po ssible elution modes of the a-FFF.