The document describes different types of centrifuges based on their design features and intended applications. Centrifuges vary in maximum speed, capacity, temperature control, and sample volume capabilities. Small benchtop centrifuges are used in clinical labs for blood separation and can hold around 100 tubes. Microcentrifuges are very common in biology labs, can hold small tube volumes, and generate forces up to 15,000g. High speed centrifuges spin at 15,000-20,000 RPM and are used for research applications requiring separation of cellular components. Ultracentrifuges provide the highest speeds and forces but are expensive and require special rotors and cooling due to heat generation.

1. Types of centrifuges

2. • Depending on the
particular
application, centrifuges
differ in their overall
design and size.
• a common feature in all
centrifuges is the
central motor that
spins a rotor containing
the samples to be
separated

3. Types of Centrifuge depends on :
• Maximum speed of sedimentation
• Presence /absence of vacuum
• Temperature control refrigeration.
• Volume of sample and
capacity of centrifugation
tubes

4. 1. Small Benchtop
 with or without
refrigeration
 slow speed (eg up to 4000
RPM)
 common in clinical lab
(blood/plasma/serum
separation)
 can take approx (up to) 100
tubes, depending on
diameter

5. 2. Microcentrifuges
(“microfuge”, “Eppendorf”)
 take tubes of small vols (up
to 2 mL)
 very common in
biochemistry/molecular
biology/ biological labs
 can generate forces up to
~15,000 x g
 with or without refrigeration

6. 3.High Speed centrifuges
 15,000 – 20,000 RPM
 centrifugal field of 100,000 g
 large sample capacity depending on
rotor
 normally refrigerated
 research applications.
 Differentiation separation of
nucleus, mitochondrial, protein
precipitate, large intact organelle, cellular
debris, bulky protein aggregates.

7. 4. Ultracentrifuges
 65,000 RPM (100,000’s x g)
 limited lifetime
 Expensive
 require special rotors
 care in use – balance critical!
 research applications
 The high speeds used in such devices generate considerable
amounts of heat
 Therefore cooling arrangements and vaccuum are required in
ultracentrifuges

8. 5. Large-capacity preparative centrifuge
• Centrifugal fields of 3000 to 7000g.
• Efficient separation of coarse precipitates or
whole cells.