Knowra Centrifuge Centrifuge A centrifuge rotates samples so their components separate according to differences in density, size, shape, or other properties under centrifugal acceleration.
Centrifugal force : An apparent outward force used to describe motion in a rotating reference frame. It describes the outward tendency that drives material toward a centrifuge’s outer radius.
Microcentrifuge : A compact centrifuge designed for small sample volumes, commonly held in microtubes. It is a standard form for quickly separating small biological or chemical samples.
Relative centrifugal force : Centrifugal acceleration expressed as a multiple of standard gravitational acceleration. Protocols use this value to specify the acceleration experienced by samples.
Filtration : A separation method that passes a mixture through a porous barrier to retain selected components. Unlike centrifugation, it separates material by passage through a filter rather than settling under rotation.
Sedimentation : The settling of suspended particles under gravity or another applied acceleration. Centrifuges accelerate sedimentation, separating suspended particles far faster than gravity alone.
Ultracentrifuge : A centrifuge capable of very high rotational speeds and accelerations, often used for macromolecules and small particles. Its extreme acceleration enables separations that ordinary laboratory centrifuges cannot achieve.
Sedimentation coefficient : A measure of how rapidly a particle sediments under an applied acceleration, accounting for its drag. It captures how particle size, shape, and density affect movement during centrifugation.
Chromatography : A family of methods that separates mixture components through differential movement between stationary and mobile phases. It separates by chemical interactions and migration, not primarily by centrifugal sedimentation.
Stokes' law : A relation describing the drag force on a small sphere moving slowly through a viscous fluid. It helps predict how particle size and fluid viscosity affect separation speed.
Blood fractionation : The separation of blood into components such as plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. Centrifugation separates blood components according to their settling behavior.
Show all 22