A phase-separating centrifuge for automated radioanalysis

Abstract

A simple centrifuge controlled by a suitable laboratory programmer has been designed to perform automatically the purification procedures in radioanalysis which involve precipitation or solvent extraction. The mechanism of liquid-liquid phase separation depends on the intrinsic properties of the liquids; either surface tensions, or, when predictable volumes are used, the densities rather than detection of the interface level as in the manual method. The liquid-liquid phase-separating performance of 3 versions of the centrifuge having different orifice materials has been studied and data are presented which should enable the analyst to select the most appropriate version for a particular solvent extraction method.