Centrifugation is a process that involves the use of the centrifugal force for the separation of mixtures.

In chemistry, increasing the effective gravitational force on a test tube so as to more rapidly and completely cause the precipitate ("pellet") to gather on the bottom of the tube. The solution ("supernatant") is then either quickly decanted from the tube without disturbing the precipitate or withdrawn by means of a medicine dropper. The rate of centrifugation is specified by the acceleration applied to the sample, typically measured in g.

Types

---

There are various types of centrifugation:

• Differential centrifugation
• Isopycnic centrifugation
• Sucrose gradient centrifugation

Other applications

---

• Separating textile.
• Removing water from lettuce after washing it.
• Separating particles from an air-flow using cyclonic separation.

See also

---

• Centrifuge

Laboratory techniques | Unit operations

Zentrifugation | Centrifugation | 遠心分離 | Centrifugação