Laboratoriesentrifuger

Laboratoriesentrifuger are devices used in scientific and clinical laboratories to separate mixtures by applying centrifugal force. By spinning samples in rotors at high speed, components with differing densities sediment at different rates, enabling isolation of particles such as cells, organelles, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Centrifuges come in benchtop and floor-standing forms and use different rotor designs. Microcentrifuges process small volumes (0.2–2 ml) with fixed-angle or swinging-bucket rotors. Larger models accommodate tens to hundreds of milliliters and may feature fixed-angle, swinging-bucket, or vertical rotors. Ultracentrifuges operating at tens of thousands of rotations per minute can generate very high g-forces for specialized separations such as density gradient centrifugation.

Operation typically requires balancing the load, selecting a rotor, and programming speed and duration. Relative centrifugal force (RCF) is commonly specified and relates to speed and rotor geometry: RCF ≈ 1.118×10^-5 × r × (rpm)^2, where r is the rotor radius in centimeters. Temperature control is important for sensitive samples; refrigerated models maintain low temperatures during runs.

Applications include separation of blood components (plasma, buffy coat, erythrocytes), isolation of nucleic acids and proteins, pelleting of cells, and density gradient methods using media such as sucrose or cesium chloride. Maintenance includes rotor inspection for wear or corrosion, proper cleaning, tube inspection, and periodic calibration of speed and temperature to ensure accuracy and safety.