High Speed Centrifuges

Sorvall Superspeed RC 2 Centrifuge

Sorvall Superspeed RC5C Centrifuge (housed in Department of Biological Sciences)

A centrifuge spins samples in a rotor so that a force that is many times that of gravity is applied to the sample. Under these conditions small particles such as precipitated proteins or nucleic acids can be separated from a suspension. Cellular organelles such as cell nuclei can also be separated from other cellular components by this procedure. A high speed centrifuge can spin samples at rates up to 20,000 rpm and generate forces up to 30,000 times the force of gravity. Sample volumes from a few mL to 1000 ml can be used in these centrifuges.