Abstract

In the last decade a major progress has been achieved in the synthesis and functionalization

of nanoscale particles, but the handling of such material systems like

separation or classification has been neglected. With tubular centrifuges, even

nanoscale particles can be separated from a suspension at reasonable throughputs

due to very high g values. This is a great advantage compared to membrane techniques

(low throughput) and filtering, disc stack and decanter centrifuges (lower

g values). An analysis of the discharged solids in dependence on time and verification

of sediment build-up with a magnetic resonance spectrometer (MRI) provide

a comprehensive understanding of the sedimentation process in a tubular

bowl centrifuge. MRI allows a noninvasive, direct view into the filled centrifuge

rotor; this data is compared with theoretical results.