Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria; Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Okonkwo, G.N., Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria; Ezeonu, S.O., Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
A centrifuge is a vital instrument needed for easy separation techniques in most laboratories. This instrument is very scarce and if found is very expensive. This paper focuses on the fabrication and evaluation of this instrument locally. The centrifuge is majorly divided into two compartments. The upper part, which is made of metal bowl and the base, made of metal sheet carved in cylindrical shape to house the electric motor. Metal sheet was purchased from Bida town, after which the whole bodywork was assembled together by means of electrical welding. Bolts and nuts were used to hold other parts together and an electric motor was installed to drive the system. The fabricated centrifuge was tested with a number of sample solutions in the chemistry laboratory and the required supernatants were obtained. The results show that this instrument compares very well with any standard centrifuge and is therefore recommended for use in related laboratory works.