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What Is The Overview Of The Centrifuge?

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Definition and Use

 

A centrifuge is a machine that uses centrifugal force to separate components of a liquid and solid particles or a mixture of liquid and liquid. It is mainly used to separate solid particles from liquid in a suspension, or to separate two immiscible liquids of different densities in an emulsion (e.g., separating cream from milk). It can also be used to remove liquid from wet solids (e.g., using a washing machine to spin dry wet clothes). Special ultra-fast tubular separators can also separate gas mixtures of different densities. In addition, by using the characteristics of different sedimentation speeds of solid particles of different densities or particle sizes in liquids, sedimentation centrifuges can also classify solid particles by density or particle size.

 

Working Principle

 

The working principle of the centrifuge is to use centrifugal force to separate the floating particles in the culture medium. Specifically, the heavier the particles, the faster they sink, and conversely, particles with a density smaller than the liquid will float. The speed at which particles move under the gravitational field is related to the size, shape and density of the particles, as well as the strength of the gravitational field and the viscosity of the liquid. A centrifuge usually consists of one or more centrifugal heads, and the speed and centrifugal speed of the centrifugal heads can be adjusted. The centrifuge can also control the speed and quality of separation by controlling the speed and centrifugal force of the rotor. The rotor and reduction mechanism of the centrifuge can effectively control the size of the centrifugal force and ensure the accuracy of separation.

 

 

Types

 

Centrifuges can be divided into many types according to the structure, separation method and speed:

1. Desktop centrifuge (horizontal centrifuge): compact design, usually placed on the laboratory workbench for use. With a small size and moderate capacity, it is suitable for daily laboratory operations and small batch sample processing. It is easy to operate and widely used in biomedicine, chemical analysis and other fields.

2. Vertical centrifuge (floor-standing centrifuge): It is larger in size and usually placed on the ground for use. It has a higher speed and larger capacity, and is suitable for experimental and industrial environments that require processing a large number of samples or high-speed centrifugal separation. The structure is stable and can meet more demanding separation tasks.

3. Filter centrifuge: It mainly separates solid particles from liquid through high-speed rotating filter media (such as filter screens, filter cloths, etc.). Under the action of centrifugal force, solid particles are trapped on the filter media, while liquid flows out through the filter media. It is suitable for solid-liquid separation and is widely used in chemical, food, pharmaceutical and other industries.

4. Sedimentation centrifuge: Separation is performed by utilizing the different sedimentation speeds of solid particles of different densities or particle sizes in liquid. Under the action of centrifugal force, solid particles quickly settle to the bottom of the centrifuge to form a sedimentation layer, while the liquid remains in the upper layer. It is suitable for occasions that require fine separation, such as the preparation of biological samples.

In addition, from the perspective of speed, centrifuges can also be divided into low-speed centrifuges, high-speed centrifuges and ultra-high-speed centrifuges. Low-speed centrifuges have a low speed and are suitable for separating larger particles or materials with large density differences; high-speed centrifuges have a high speed and can generate stronger centrifugal force, which is suitable for separating smaller particles or materials that require higher precision; ultra-high-speed centrifuges have extremely high speeds and can generate huge centrifugal forces, which are suitable for separating extremely small particles or performing difficult material separation tasks.

 

Application fields

 

Centrifuges are widely used in many fields, including but not limited to:

1. Biochemistry and molecular biology: used to separate biological macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and organelle cell fragments.

2. Genetics: used to process and analyze genetic materials such as chromosomes, gene fragments, etc.

3. Chemical and petroleum: used for oil-water separation, catalyst recovery, etc., as well as chemical concentration, recrystallization, impurity removal and other processes.

4. Pharmaceuticals: used to separate drug components and purify, etc., and are indispensable equipment in the pharmaceutical process.

5. Food industry: used for fruit and vegetable juice extraction, milk powder separation, etc., which helps to improve the quality and taste of food.

 

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