How does centrifugal force assist filtration in a centrifuge?

In the context of chemistry, filtration requires a driving force to move fluid through a filter medium. While gravity is sufficient for some laboratory or large-scale processes, a centrifuge replaces or supplements gravitational force with centrifugal force, which can be many times greater than gravity.12

In a centrifuge equipped with a bowl containing a porous filter medium, this intense centrifugal force acts as the primary driver to push the fluid through the filter. By substituting a stronger, sustained force for gravity, the centrifuge significantly increases the rate of filtration. This is particularly effective for separating fluids from solid matter or for clarifying substances where gravitational settling would be too slow or ineffective. The magnitude of this force is determined by the mass of the material, the radius of the rotation, and the square of the angular velocity, allowing for precise control over the separation process.123