supernatant
Liquid above sediment
Supernatant refers to the liquid lying above a solid residue after crystallization, precipitation, or centrifugation.
In laboratory settings, you spin a sample to separate components by density, then carefully draw off the supernatant for analysis or discard: After centrifuging the blood, we pipetted the supernatant into a clean tube.
The term comes from Latin for "swimming above."
Resting on top of
- upperShoe part above sole
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- interfaceShared connection point
meniscus · film · fraction · top · floating · separated · clear · clarified
Spinning density-separation device
- pelletSmall rounded mass
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
- decantationSeparating liquid from sediment
pipette · aliquot · fraction · separation · biochemistry · analytical · clarification · solute
overlying
Resting on top of
interface · meniscus · film · fraction · top · floating · separated · clear · clarified · decanted
centrifuge
Spinning density-separation device
- pelletSmall rounded mass
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
decantation · pipette · aliquot · fraction · separation · biochemistry · analytical · clarification · solute · colloid
aqueous
Pertaining to liquid solutions
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- methanolToxic one-carbon alcohol
isopropanol · acetone · saline · extract · filtrate · miscible · dilute · buffer · lysate · medium
- "super" wordssuperhero, superstar, superman, superwoman, superpower
- centrifugationcentrifugation, centrifugal force, rotor, pellet, g-force
- centrifuge fractionspellet, precipitate, interphase
- industrial wasteslag, tailings, sludge, effluent, overburden
- sludge treatmentsludge, biosolids, dewatering, digestion, thickening
- tailingsimpoundment, slurry, seepage, leachate, dewatering