Practical Applications of Centrifuge in Daily Life and Labs
Centrifuge refers to a device that uses its centrifugal force and separates all the components present in a fluid by spinning that particular fluid at a very high speed inside the container as this separates the fluids of various densities from its solid form. It generally works by creating a denser particle and substance that can move towards the centre in a rotational form. Also, the object which is less dense can be moved and thereby displaced to the centre of the machines.
History of Centrifuges
Benjamin Robin was an English engineer in the military who, while serving for the nation, invented the famous arm apparatus that used to whirl to determine drag. Antonin Prandtl in 1864 proposed a unique idea to use this machine to separate the cream from the milk. The idea was immediately carried out by Alexander Prandtl (his brother) who made various other improvements to the designs to those established by his brother. Finally, he was successful in exhibiting a butterfat extraction device that could separate things in the year 1875.
Factors that Influence Centrifugation:
The density of both solution and sample
Viscosity/ Temperature
Distances present in particle displacements
Rotation speed
Application of Centrifuge
Centrifuges are mainly used to separate few unnecessary particles from a compound by rotating it inside a rotator device. The particles can be anything such as subcellular organelles, large molecules and other kinds of cells or particles. There are mainly two procedures for centrifuges. One of these is preparative which mainly isolates certain particles, and the other is analytical that refers to measuring all the physical properties of the particle that is in its sediment form.
Due to the rotation that occurs in a centrifuge, a certain force is applied which is known as a centrifugal force to all the particles. This will sediment at a perfect rate that is proportional to the force that is applied to. The sedimentation rate of that particular particle is directly proportional to its size and is at a fixed liquid viscosity and centrifugal force that is also in a fixed state.
A Schematic Diagram of a Centrifuge Machine
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Centrifuge Uses: An In-depth Analysis
The centrifuge has a variety of features in laboratories and industries areas. It is a technique that is used to separate the particles dissolved in any solution that is based on its shape, viscosity, size and density. Here in this particular technique, a force is applied to a solution that helps it to separate itself from the dense components from those with relatively low density. There are many more applications of centrifugation and they are mentioned below.
Centrifugation is used to separate a mixture that has two specific miscible liquids in it and both the liquids are different from each other.
This particular technique is used in the study of macromolecules as well as analyzing their hydrodynamic properties.
Mammalian cells are purified with its help and by using a specific kind of centrifuges.
This kind of process also plays a vital role in the field of microbiology for treating various kinds of subcellular organelles. It is also effective and can be used to treat membranes.
It also plays an application in testing membrane vesicles.
A centrifuge is used to separate fine soluble substances from their solutions. Example - chalk from water.
Skimmed milk is a unique form of milk and has the properties of low fats. Centrifugation is applied to separate the fat from the skimmed milk and leaving the skimmed milk alone in its fat form.
Cyclonic separation is an important type of application and can be used to separate a few unwanted particles from the air.
Clarification and stabilization of wine is also an important application of centrifuge.
This particular technique, with the help of other purifying techniques, proves to be very helpful in separating proteins. Other techniques such as precipitation of ammonium sulfate are also some helpful applications of centrifuges.
It is a widely used technique in the field of forensic chemistry where this particular process is used to separate the important components from the blood samples. It is also used in various laboratories for separating urine from urine samples.
Centrifugal differentiation is a different and unique kind of centrifugation and is regarded to be applied in identifying organelles.
Commercial uses of centrifuge include using as a treatment for wastewater and processing the sewages. It is also used for removing metallic shavings from industrial lubricants.
Did You Know?
The centrifuge was invented by Antonin Prandtl in the year 1864.
Centrifuges are used by the astronauts in NASA to expose them to the high forces present.
Centrifuges are an essential part of a laboratory; especially a genetics or molecular biology laboratory for without the use of it ultramicroscopic biomolecules cannot be separated from body fluids.
FAQs on Uses of Centrifuge in Chemistry: Explained
1. What is the basic principle of centrifugation in chemistry?
The basic principle of centrifugation is sedimentation. It utilises a strong centrifugal force, which is many times greater than the force of gravity, to separate particles suspended in a liquid. When a mixture is spun at high speeds, denser components are forced to move away from the axis of rotation to the bottom of the container, while less dense components remain closer to the top.
2. What is centrifugation and how does it work to separate mixtures?
Centrifugation is a laboratory technique used to separate components of a mixture based on their size, shape, and density. The process involves placing sample tubes into a rotor, which then spins at extremely high speeds. This rapid rotation creates a powerful centrifugal force that causes denser particles to settle at the bottom of the tube, forming a solid mass called a pellet. The lighter liquid that remains above the pellet is known as the supernatant.
3. What are some common uses of a centrifuge in a school chemistry lab?
In a school chemistry lab, a centrifuge is a valuable tool for various separation tasks. Common examples include:
- Separating a solid precipitate from a solution after a chemical reaction.
- Accelerating the separation of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water.
- Isolating suspended solids from a liquid to obtain a clear solution for analysis.
- In biology-related experiments, separating blood components like plasma from red blood cells.
4. What are the main types of centrifugation techniques used by chemists?
Chemists primarily use two main types of centrifugation techniques depending on the required level of separation:
- Differential Centrifugation: In this method, a sample is spun at progressively higher speeds. At each stage, particles with a specific size and density form a pellet, which is then removed before the next, faster spin.
- Density Gradient Centrifugation: This is a more refined technique where the sample is layered onto a solution with a density gradient (e.g., a sucrose solution). When spun, particles migrate and settle at the point in the gradient where their own density is equal, allowing for precise separation of components with very similar densities.
5. What are the essential components of a typical laboratory centrifuge?
A typical laboratory centrifuge is composed of several key parts that work together:
- Rotor: The central, rotating unit that holds the sample tubes. Different rotors are available for different tube sizes and capacities.
- Motor: The power source that drives the high-speed rotation of the rotor.
- Control Panel: An interface that allows the user to set and monitor the speed (in RPM or RCF) and time.
- Lid: A safety cover that locks during operation to contain the spinning rotor and prevent accidents.
- Chamber: The metal bowl that encloses the rotor. In refrigerated centrifuges, this chamber is cooled to protect temperature-sensitive samples.
6. Why is centrifugation more effective than simple filtration for separating very fine particles or colloids?
Simple filtration relies on gravity to pull a liquid through a filter paper, which traps solid particles based on its pore size. This method fails for very fine precipitates or colloidal particles because they are often smaller than the pores and can pass right through. Centrifugation, however, generates a force thousands of times stronger than gravity. This immense force is powerful enough to compel even these tiny, suspended particles to accumulate and form a pellet at the bottom of the tube, achieving a separation that is impossible with filtration alone.
7. How does a centrifuge's application differ when separating a solid from a liquid versus two immiscible liquids?
The underlying principle is the same, but the outcome is different. When separating a solid-liquid suspension, the denser solid particles are forced to form a compact pellet at the bottom, leaving the clear liquid supernatant on top. When separating two immiscible liquids (like oil and water), the centrifuge dramatically speeds up the natural layering process. The denser liquid is forced to the outermost bottom layer, while the less dense liquid forms a distinct layer on top, allowing for easy and clean separation by decanting or pipetting.
8. Beyond the chemistry lab, what are some important industrial applications of centrifugation?
Centrifugation is a critical process in many large-scale industries. Key applications include:
- Dairy Industry: Used in giant cream separators to remove fat from milk to produce skimmed milk and cream.
- Wastewater Treatment: Employed to dewater sludge by separating solid waste from water, reducing its volume for disposal.
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology: Essential for harvesting cells from culture media, purifying proteins, and in the production of vaccines.
- Food and Beverage: Used to clarify wines, beers, and fruit juices by removing unwanted pulp, yeast, and other sediments.
- Nuclear Industry: Gas centrifuges are used for isotope separation, most notably enriching uranium for use in nuclear reactors.
