The Centrifugation concept and applications

labsoko Blog / News December 19, 2022

The first centrifuge was built by Alexander Prandtl in 1875 as a mean of separating cream from milk. Since then, the laborator centrifuge developed to be a principal tool in scientific and clinical labs.

The Centrifugation concept and applications:

When an object is put in rotation around an axis, an outward radial force is applied on it. This centripetal force is used to accelerate Sedimentation, a process where denser particles move faster to the bottom, or in a centrifuge, towards an outward direction. This principle is used for several different applications in the modern lab, with the purpose of separating different constitutes within a solution:

Cells centrifugation: When there’s a need to transfer cells from one solution to another, it is required to the separate of the media of the cells themselves, which are denser than their solution and therefore sediment in the bottom of a tube, which allows a replacement of the media without loosing the cells. Cells, depending on their size, are usually centrifuged at speeds of 300-500G depending on their size. The higher the speed, the faster and better they sediment, however with the cost of a higher physical stress to the cells which might damage or tear them.
Differential centrifugation: This method, similarly to cells centrifugation, exploits the concept where denser and larger particles sediment faster. Therefore, brief centrifugation cycles are applied to a tube, and between each cycle, the fraction which has sedimented in the bottom of the tube is collected. A common use to this method is in cell lysated, where the different organelles sink in the tube in different rates, and are collected separately between each centrifugation.
Ultrafiltration: A method to purify a solution from proteins up to a certain size, depending on the ultrafiltration tube membrane. These tubes use the centripetal force to push a liquid through a semi-permeable membrane. Different cutoff membranes exist in the marker, from 3000 NMWL to 100K NMWL, which allow every protein up to a certain size to pass the membrane into the disposal compartment, leaving a filtered and concentrated solution in the upper part. It is commonly used to purify and study proteins, concentrate viral vectors such as AAV, Retro and lentivirus, and more.
Density gradient separation (Rate-Zonal Centrifugation): This method is mostly used in biology labs to separate tissues and subcellular organelles to their components. Using an application specific dense and viscous medium, particles with different densities are concentrated in defined bands within the gradient medium, which itself has a differential density along the tube. This allows for a better separation of the different components, which are layered in different bands according to their densities. Some methods include a multi layered medium, where the bottom layer is the densest and most concentrated, while the upper layers are lighter. In this case, the particles usually focus on the borderline between the media layers. Of the most popular uses of this concept is whole blood separation to it’s different cellular components, which is done by mixing the blood with a dense polysaccharides rich media. In order not to break or mix the different bands that are formed by the centrifugation, a very slow and gradual deacceleration is applied to the tubes, thus maintaining the gentle layers separated.

Sale!

Etrex 10
Original price was: KSh 18,500.00.Current price is: KSh 17,500.00.

Add to cart
Kolida KTS-442UT Total Station Set
KSh 675,000.00

Add to cart
Sale!

Ambulance Stretcher
Original price was: KSh 105,000.00.Current price is: KSh 98,000.00.

Ambulance stretcher ,durable and easy to use.

Add to cart
Nebulizer
KSh 16,500.00

makes managing your respiratory health easy. It’s simple to use, efficient, ensuring quick and reliable treatment for you and your loved ones.

Add to cart
Automatic Level Bosch
KSh 48,500.00

Automatic Level Bosch(Dumping Level ) complete with Aluminium Tripod,Staff and Hard Carrying Case

Add to cart
Labex Sodium Citrate Vacutainer
KSh 1,600.00

Pkt of 100 tubes Sodium Nitrate Vacutainer

Add to cart
Pipette Variable
KSh 4,500.00

Volume Range: – 0.1-2.5μl; Increment: 0.05μl Adjustable Volume: – Our micro pipette is more accurate volume setting with digit display. Simply rotate the piston button to select the desired volume. AUTOCLAVABLE: The tip core can be disassembled and autoclaved in 121 degree. Easy to Operate:

Add to cart
Magnetic Stirrer with Hot Plate
KSh 105,000.00

79-1 Magnetic Stirrer with Hot Plate

Add to cart
Sale!

Military Compass
Original price was: KSh 15,000.00.Current price is: KSh 12,500.00.

If a durable compass is your desire, then our metal compass is the one for you. The casing is tough enough for the compass to work in all kinds of conditions, is liquid-filled with a hairline guide wire for accurate readings and precision aiming, and is an excellent choice for any type of outdoor adventure.

SKU:

3103

MPN:

NA

Width:

1.18 (in)

Height:

7.87 (in)

Depth:

4.33 (in)

Warranty:

3.9 oz / 3.1 x 2 in Durable metal case Liquid filled for accurate readings Hairline guide wire for precision aiming

Add to cart
Leica- Sprinter 150 Digital Level
KSh 560,000.00

Add to cart
Sale!

Foldable Toilet Safety Rail
Original price was: KSh 10,000.00.Current price is: KSh 8,500.00.
Height Adjustment armrest to floor: 66-74 cm (26-31in.)

Width Adjustment between armrests: 46-61 cm (8-24 in.)

Overall Depth: arm 43 cm (16.75 in.), at leg 30 cm (12 in.)

Width : 60.96 cm (24 in)
Add to cart
Sale!

Test Tube Stand
Original price was: KSh 250.00.Current price is: KSh 190.00.

Test tube Stand are laboratory equipment used to hold upright multiple test tubes at the same time. They are most commonly used when various different solutions are needed to work with simultaneously, for safety reasons, for safe storage of test tubes, and to ease the transport of multiple tubes.

Add to cart