Probing particle size distributions in natural surface waters from 15 nm to 2 microm by a combination of LIBD and single-particle counting

We present a technique for measuring colloid size distributions between 15 nm and 2 microm at concentrations relevant to natural surface waters. Two particle-measuring methods are combined: laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD), which allows the quantification of colloid size distributions below 400 nm, and a commercial single-particle counter that extends the accessible size range up to two mum. Centrifugation was used in order to separate micrometer sized particles for the LIBD measurement. The feasibility is demonstrated on water of Lake Brienz (Switzerland) and the River Pfinz (Germany) and the particle size distributions follow Pareto's law even down to 15 nm in both cases.