Features and Technical Advantages and Commonly Used Centrifuge Tubes

Centrifuge tubes( 5 mL Centrifuge Tubes, 15 mL Centrifuge Tubes, 50 mL Centrifuge Tubes) are great tools to conveniently and safely deal with samples. For processing larger volume samples, conical-bottomed screw cap centrifuge tubes are usually used. However, the handling of medium-volume samples presents a challenge: only large-volume conical-bottomed screw-cap centrifuge tubes can be used—unpractical, inconvenient, and often prone to contamination.

Commonly used centrifuge tube materials

There are many different materials available for the centrifuge tube, from different plastic materials to glass and stainless steel.

  1. PP (polypropylene): Translucent, chemically and thermally stable, but brittle at low temperatures. Do not centrifuge below 4°C.
  2. PA (polyallomer, a polymer of polypropylene and polyethylene): Translucent, the most chemically stable, but easy to soften at high temperatures.
  3. CAB (cellulose acetobutyrate, butyl acetate): LH is used at 0-15℃, HT is used at 20-40℃, transparent. It can be used to dilute relatively many acids, bases, and salts. But when pH=8 and above, organic solvents, and heavy salts such as CsCl are only available under limited conditions. Suitable for alcohol and sucrose gradients.
  4. PC (polycarbonate, polycarbonate): good transparency, high hardness, high-temperature disinfection. However, it is not resistant to strong acids and alkali and some organic solvents such as alcohol, oil, and MDSO. Not full. It is mainly used for centrifugation above 50,000 rpm.
  5. PCR (polyclear, super clear): Similar to PC, but harder than PC.
  6. PE (polyethylene, polyethylene): opaque, stable to acetone, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. When the temperature becomes high, it will become soft and must be filled.
  7. PS (polystyrol, polystyrene): transparent and hard, stable to most aqueous solutions, but not stained with many organic substances, one-time use. Mostly used for low-speed centrifugation.
  8. PF (polyflor, polyfluorine): translucent, used at -100℃-140℃.
  9. Stainless Steel: Resists heat, chemicals, and autoclave, but is heavier and more expensive.
  10. CN tube: The texture is soft and transparent, but it is not resistant to strong acids alkalis, and some organic solvents, and cannot be autoclaved. It is suitable for sucrose, glycerol, and other density gradient centrifugation. It is transparent and easy to collect.

Features of centrifuge tubes

Made of high-quality transparent polymer material polypropylene (PP), it has been widely used in a variety of experimental operations to meet the requirements of bioanalytical grades. The surface is printed with a clear black scale and a white area where text can be written. Centrifuge tubes are also rigorously leak-tested.

  • 1. The sample loss is reduced to less due to the constraints of smaller and smaller sample volumes, it is increasingly important to reduce the possible negative effects of using centrifuge tubes in analysis. Centrifuge tubes produced by HAWACH are used to optimize protein and DNA analysis needs and ensure maximum protein/DNA recovery. In order to be able to continue the subsequent analysis, the minimization of sample loss is very necessary for the low-concentration protein/DNA situation that currently exists.
  • 2. SealingThe tube cover has three functions: Prevent the sample from leaking out. This is especially important when working with radioactive or highly corrosive samples. Prevent sample volatilization. Prevent deformation. The safety cover with a latch provides great safety for the user’s day-to-day operations, especially in heating applications. To meet the requirements of medical and molecular biology research, we also offer two additional cleanliness options for all microtubes.

Technical advantages of centrifuge tubes

  • 1. Sample Separation: Centrifuge tubes enable the separation of different components of a mixture based on their density. When the tube is spun in a centrifuge, the denser particles move towards the bottom, while the lighter components move towards the top.
  • 2. Precise Control of Centrifugation Parameters: Centrifuge tubes are designed to fit specific centrifuge rotors, ensuring that they are properly balanced during centrifugation. This allows for precise control of parameters like speed, acceleration, and time.
  • 3. Material and Design Choices: Centrifuge tubes are available in various materials such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, and glass. This allows for compatibility with different chemicals, temperatures, and centrifugation speeds.
  • 4. Chemical Compatibility: Depending on the material, centrifuge tubes can be chosen to be compatible with a wide range of chemicals, making them versatile for different types of experiments.
  • 5. Resistance to Temperature and Pressure: Many centrifuge tubes are designed to withstand high centrifugation speeds and temperatures. This makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, including those involving high-speed centrifugation or extreme temperatures.
  • 6. Sterilizability: Centrifuge tubes can often be autoclaved, allowing for the sterilization of both the tubes and the contents, which is crucial in many biological and biochemical applications.
  • 7. Graduated and Non-Graduated Options: Depending on the application, centrifuge tubes come in both graduated (marked with volume indicators) and non-graduated versions, allowing for precise measurements of sample volumes.
  • 8. Sealability: Some centrifuge tubes come with secure sealing options, like screw caps or snap caps. This is especially important for applications where containment and prevention of sample loss or contamination are critical.
  • 9. Adaptability for Different Centrifuge Types: Centrifuge tubes are designed to fit various types of centrifuges, including microcentrifuges, benchtop centrifuges, and high-speed floor-model centrifuges. This adaptability ensures compatibility with different lab setups.
  • 10. Specialized Varieties: There are specialized centrifuge tubes available for specific applications. For example, ultracentrifuge tubes are designed to withstand very high speeds in ultracentrifuges, while PCR tubes are designed to withstand thermal cycling in PCR machines.
  • 11. Options for Filtration and Separation: Some centrifuge tubes come with built-in filters or membranes for specific applications such as DNA/RNA isolation or protein purification.
  • 12. Storage and Transport: Many centrifuge tubes are designed to be stackable, which aids in storage. Additionally, some come with specialized racks or carriers that facilitate easy handling, storage, and transport.

How to choose centrifuge tubes

Centrifuge tubes come in a variety of sizes – 1.5ml to 500ml, and the materials used vary. Here are some of the main things to consider when choosing a centrifuge tube.

  • 1) Capacity: determined by the volume of the sample. In general, the test solution is filled to 2/3 of the centrifuge tube, but note that in some applications (such as high-speed centrifugation) the centrifuge tube must be filled.
  • 2) Shape: Conical-bottomed centrifuge tubes are better when collecting sediment, while round-bottomed tubes are more useful for density gradient centrifugation.
  • 3) Maximum relative centrifugal force: Detailed information is provided by the manufacturer.
  • 4) Corrosion resistance: glass tube is an inert material, polycarbonate tube is sensitive to organic solvents (such as ethanol, and acetone), while polypropylene has better corrosion resistance and can be sterilized at high temperatures.