ultracentrifugation

chemistry

Also known as: convection-free centrifuge

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July 14, 2026

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Ultracentrifugation is a technique that uses a high-speed centrifuge to separate particles or molecules based on their weight. This process spins samples at extremely high speeds, generating forces many times greater than gravity.123

In biochemistry, ultracentrifugation is crucial for isolating and analyzing cellular components and molecules like proteins. By spinning samples at very high speeds, researchers can separate different proteins and determine their molecular weights. This method is also used for gas separation, including the separation of isotopes, and has applications in fields like medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.23

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centrifuge
Vacuum-type centrifuges
Many vacuum-type centrifuges are ultracentrifuges; i.e., they operate at speeds of more than about 20,000 revolutions per minute. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an early vacuum-type ultracentrifuge. The centrifuge rotor located inside the vacuum chamber is connected to the air-supported, air-driven turbine by a vertical, small-diameter, flexible…
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Many vacuum-type centrifuges are ultracentrifuges; i.e., they operate at speeds of more than about 20,000 revolutions per minute. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of an early vacuum-type ultracentrifuge. The centrifuge rotor located inside the vacuum chamber is connected to the air-supported, air-driven turbine by a vertical, small-diameter, flexible…
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biochemistry
Centrifugation and electrophoresis
Proteins are separated by ultracentrifugation—very high speed spinning; with appropriate photography of the protein layers as they form in the centrifugal field, it is possible to determine the molecular weights of proteins.
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Proteins are separated by ultracentrifugation—very high speed spinning; with appropriate photography of the protein layers as they form in the centrifugal field, it is possible to determine the molecular weights of proteins.
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separation and purification
Field separations
Another field-separation technique, ultracentrifugation, involves separation on the basis of the centrifugal force created by very rapid rotation (50,000 revolutions per minute or more). Different species, depending on their masses, will settle at different speeds under these conditions. Ultracentrifugation finds its greatest use in the separation of polymeric…
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Another field-separation technique, ultracentrifugation, involves separation on the basis of the centrifugal force created by very rapid rotation (50,000 revolutions per minute or more). Different species, depending on their masses, will settle at different speeds under these conditions. Ultracentrifugation finds its greatest use in the separation of polymeric…
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Theodor H.E. Svedberg
…for his invention of the ultracentrifuge, an invaluable aid in those and subsequent studies.
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…for his invention of the ultracentrifuge, an invaluable aid in those and subsequent studies.
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