Definition

Noun: 1. The process of separating substances of different densities by the use of a centrifuge: A mechanical separation technique where a mixture is spun at high speed, causing denser components to move outward and separate from less dense ones.

Usage

Centrifugation is used as a noun to describe the separation process itself. It is commonly used in scientific, medical, and industrial contexts. - The procedure involves centrifugation of the blood sample. - Centrifugation is a key step in many laboratory protocols.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The laboratory protocol requires centrifugation at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes.
  • Centrifugation effectively separated the cellular debris from the supernatant.
• Industrial Context:
  • The dairy industry uses centrifugation to separate cream from milk.
  • Wastewater treatment often involves centrifugation to remove solid particles.

Advanced Usage

• Differential centrifugation: A specific technique where repeated centrifugation at increasing speeds is used to separate particles of different sizes and densities.
  • Mitochondria were isolated from the cell lysate using differential centrifugation.
• Ultracentrifugation: A very high-speed centrifugation process used to separate very small particles like proteins and viruses.
  • The molecular weight was determined by ultracentrifugation analysis.

Variants and Related Words

• Centrifuge (n): The machine or device that performs centrifugation.
  • Place the tubes in the centrifuge.
• Centrifuge (v): To subject a substance to centrifugation.
  • You must centrifuge the sample before analysis.
• Centrifugal (adj): Moving or tending to move away from a center.
  • The centrifugal force pushes particles outward.

Synonyms

• Spinning
• Rotation (in the specific context of separation)
• Sedimentation (specifically when aided by centrifugal force)

Related Phrases

• Subject to centrifugation: The act of putting a sample through this process.
  • The mixture was subjected to centrifugation.
• By centrifugation: Describing the method used for separation.
  • The plasma was obtained by centrifugation.

Noun

1. the process of separating substances of different densities by the use of a centrifuge