A centrifuge is an equipment that is driven by an electric
motor. It puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis by
applying a force that is perpendicular to the axis. It works with
the6207 help of
the principle of sedimentation and is used for separation of
substances. The more dense substances go to the bottom while the
lighter objects move to the top.
The history of evolution of the process of centrifugation can be
traced back to the mid 15th century when centrifuge systems that
were operated by hand were used to separate cream from milk.
In the year 1864, this system of separation of cream from milk was
commercialized by Antonin Prandt, who developed the first diary
centrifuge for the same purpose.
The potential use of the centrifuge system in the laboratory was
first explored by Friedrich Miescher, who in 1869 used a centrifuge
system for the purpose of isolating a cell organelle. This work was
taken further by other experts. In 1879, the first continuous
centrifugal separator was started by Gustaf de Lavai, which made
commercialization of this system a possible option.
The next major step that was taken in the evolution of the
centrifuge came during the 1920s and 1930s. During this period, the
ultracentrifuge which was capable of achieving 900,000 was
developed by Theodor Svedberg who was a Swedish colloid
chemist.
In 1949, Spinco (Specialized6209 Instruments Corp)
introduced the first preparative ultracentrifuge that could reach a
speed of 40,000 rotations per minute.
In early 1950s, the density gradient centrifugation process was
introduced for the purpose of tissue fractionation. This was
developed by a plant virologist by the name of Myron K
Brakke.
In 1945, Beckman Instruments took over Spinco and highly improvised
the centrifuges. Many of the centrifuges developed then by Beckman
are in use even today. They upgraded the rotor blade material and
replaced drive systems with high speed motors.
In 1991 HEINKEL introduced hyper centrifugation for dewatering at
high pressure.
Centrifugation has thus come a long long way since the process of
its first commercialization in the 1940s. Today, the centrifuges
use materials like aluminium, alloys, titanium etc in order to
withstand high centrifugal forces. These centrifuges also have
standard processes for programming, cooling, reduction of the
emitted noise, changing rotor systems etc. Vacuums have been added
to reduce6301
friction as well as for maintaining a control on temperature. The
centrifuge system continues to be an important part of the
laboratory equipment for conducting researches for the future.


