The BECKMANN XL 80 –PREPARATIVE ULTRACENTRIFUGE is a vacuum ultracentrifuge with a dynamic temperature regulation system, a convenient operating height for most users due to a shallow recess that holds the sample rotor. They can include several different rotor types ranging from fixed-angle, near-vertical angle, to swinging-bucket rotors.
Operation of the BECKMANN XL 80 –PREPARATIVE ULTRACENTRIFUGE is convenient and controlled through a touch screen interface which allows the operator to select RPM settings up to 80,000 RPM, temperatures between 0°C and 40°C, time settings, and even acceleration and deceleration rates for the ultracentrifuge. After the sample tubes are carefully balanced and loaded, they can be transferred directly to the rotor to spin the sample tubes. Importantly, the instrument is equipped with a rotor safety function- “Dynamic Rotor Inertia Check” (DRIC), which can sense imbalances in the rotor that may lead to catastrophic failure and equipment damage before the ultracentrifuge is allowed to run at critical revolutions per minute.
The Optima L-XP is marketed with an accessory set which includes a variety of sample tubes designed to fit the rotors. While samples can be loaded into the tubes with some care, it is entirely possible that the tube and the rotor wells themselves will accumulate sample matter.
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ROTORS
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Swinging bucket rotors(SW 60 Ti) allow the tubes to hang on hinges so the tubes reorient to the horizontal as the rotor initially accelerates (Maximum speed – 60000rpm) |
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Fixed angle rotors (80 i) are made of a single block of metal and hold the tubes in cavities bored at a predetermined angle (Maximum speed – 80000rpm)
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Near vertical tube rotors (NVT) are designed to have plugs, screwed into the rotor cavities over sealed tubes and support for the hydrostatic force generated by centrifugation. (Maximum speed – 65000rpm) |
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS
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Preparative rotors are used in biology for pelleting of fine particulate fractions, such as cellular organelles, mitochondria, microsomes, ribosomes and viruses. |
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They can also be used for gradient separations, in which the tubes are filled from top to bottom with an increasing concentration of a dense substance in solution.
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Gradients of cesium salts are used for separation of nucleic acids. After the sample has spun at high speed for sufficient time to produce the separation, the rotor is allowed to come to a smooth stop and the gradient is gently pumped out of each tube to isolate the separated components. |
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Useful in Protein Purification. |
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