How to Correctly Use a Centrifuge and What Are Its Uses?

A centrifuge is a machine that uses centrifugal force to separate components from a mixture of liquid and solid particles or liquid and liquid. The centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the centrifuge drum, along with appropriate filter materials, accelerates the liquid phase out of the drum while leaving the solid phase behind. This results in the separation of solids and liquids, commonly known as dehydration.

How to Correctly Use a Centrifuge?

• Clarify Separation Goals: Determine whether you want to collect the supernatant (liquid) or the precipitate (solid). This will help guide your experimental separation process.

• Choosing the Correct Centrifuge Rotor and Tube: Use a centrifuge tube with a pointed bottom for better adhesion of precipitates to the wall.

• Low-Temperature Centrifugation: When centrifuging at low temperatures, make sure to set the centrifuge to the required temperature first. This ensures the experiment proceeds under the right conditions.

• Selecting the Appropriate Speed or Centrifugal Force: Choose the proper speed or centrifugal force for your experiment. Too low a speed will be ineffective, while too high a speed could cause sample loss. Always consider the right parameters and experience, and balance the centrifuge load properly.

• Secure the Lid: Always ensure the centrifuge lid is tightly closed. If not, it can pose a safety risk.

• Handling Supernatant and Precipitate: Be quick when handling the supernatant or discarding it to avoid the mixture from re-suspending over time, which could affect the quality of your results.

What Are the Uses of a Centrifuge?

• A centrifuge is primarily used to separate solid particles from liquids in suspensions or to separate two immiscible liquids of different densities in emulsions.

• It is also used to remove liquid from wet solids, such as in a washing machine to spin-dry wet clothes.

• Special high-speed tubular separators can be used to separate gas mixtures of different densities.

• Some sedimentation centrifuges can grade solid particles by their density or particle size based on the differences in the sedimentation rates of the particles in the liquid.