Supernatant vs. Infranatant — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
Supernatant refers to the clear liquid above a settled solid in a mixture, while infranatant describes the liquid lying below the solid.
Difference Between Supernatant and Infranatant
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Supernatant is the clear liquid layer that remains above a precipitate after sedimentation or centrifugation, used particularly in scientific contexts. In contrast, infranatant is less commonly referenced and pertains to the liquid that settles below a solid layer, often used in environmental or chemical processing scenarios.
In processes like centrifugation, the supernatant can be easily decanted or extracted without disturbing the solid residue. On the other hand, accessing the infranatant usually requires more careful handling to prevent remixing with the upper layers.
Supernatant is often analyzed in laboratories to determine the presence of dissolved substances or to recover supernatant fluids after a reaction. Conversely, infranatant is typically examined when the substances of interest are denser than the bulk of the material and settle at the bottom.
While supernatant is a term widely used in biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemistry, infranatant is not as commonly used and is more specific to certain industrial processes like sludge management in wastewater treatment.
Supernatant samples are critical for diagnostic tests where the clarity of the liquid can be indicative of certain conditions or results. In contrast, infranatant might be analyzed in environmental studies, focusing on sediment and pollution levels at the bottom of bodies of water.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Liquid overlying a precipitate.
Liquid underlying a solid layer.
Usage Context
Common in lab sciences.
Less common, used in specific industries.
Collection Method
Easily decanted or siphoned off.
Requires careful handling to access.
Common Fields
Biochemistry, molecular biology.
Environmental studies, wastewater management.
Importance of Clarity
Clarity often crucial for analysis.
Often less focus on clarity.
Compare with Definitions
Supernatant
Often analyzed in diagnostics and research.
The supernatant was examined for the presence of bacterial toxins.
Infranatant
Typically associated with the bottom layer in a stratified mixture.
The infranatant in the waste container showed high levels of contamination.
Supernatant
Used to describe the clear liquid separated from suspended solids.
The lab technician instructed to carefully pipette the supernatant without disturbing the settled cells.
Infranatant
Less commonly used compared to supernatant.
The term infranatant is rarely used in standard laboratory practices.
Supernatant
The clear fluid remaining above a precipitate after settling or centrifugation.
After centrifugation, the supernatant was transferred to a new tube for further analysis.
Infranatant
The liquid found below the solid matter after settling.
The infranatant was collected for heavy metal analysis.
Supernatant
Can be synonymous with 'clear layer'.
Make sure to only collect the supernatant, leaving the sediment behind.
Infranatant
Specific to certain environmental and industrial contexts.
Monitoring the infranatant helps in assessing the efficacy of sedimentation tanks.
Supernatant
The part of a solution or mixture that lies above the solid residue.
The supernatant contained the dissolved enzymes we needed for our experiment.
Infranatant
Important in pollution and sediment studies.
The infranatant was sampled as part of the ongoing study on riverbed pollution.
Supernatant
Denoting the liquid lying above a solid residue after crystallization, precipitation, centrifugation, or other process
Carefully transfer the supernatant fluid into a 15 ml centrifuge tube
Infranatant
(of a liquid) Lying below a sediment or precipitate
Supernatant
A volume of supernatant liquid
The supernatants were filtered and analysed
Infranatant
The infranatant material
Supernatant
Floating on the surface.
Supernatant
The clear fluid above a sediment or precipitate.
Supernatant
Lying or floating above a denser fluid, or above a solid sediment or precipitate (which has been separated by crystallisation, centrifugation etc.).
Supernatant
The liquid that lies above a sediment or precipitate; supernate
Supernatant
Material that floats on the surface of a liquid
Supernatant
Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water.
Supernatant
The liquid remaining after solids suspended in the liquid have been sedimented by gravity or by centrifugation. Contrasted with the solid sediment, or (in centrifugation) the pellet.
Supernatant
A liquid lying above a sediment (floating on the surface)
Supernatant
Of a liquid; floating on the surface above a sediment or precipitate;
The supernatant fat was skimmed off
Common Curiosities
Can both supernatant and infranatant be collected from the same sample?
Yes, both can be collected from the same sample depending on the separation technique and the nature of the mixture.
Why is the clarity of supernatant important?
Clarity in supernatant is often important for accurate chemical and biological analyses.
What is the main difference between supernatant and infranatant?
The main difference is that supernatant refers to the liquid above a settled solid, while infranatant is the liquid below it.
How is infranatant typically collected?
Infranatant is collected with careful techniques to avoid disturbing the upper layers of the mixture.
Where is supernatant commonly used?
Supernatant is commonly used in laboratory settings, particularly in biochemistry and molecular biology.
What precautions must be taken when collecting supernatant?
Precautions include not disturbing the sediment during collection to maintain sample integrity.
What is the significance of infranatant in environmental studies?
It helps in analyzing pollutants and sediments in environmental bodies like lakes and rivers.
What type of industries might use the term infranatant?
Industries dealing with wastewater treatment and environmental management might use the term infranatant.
Can infranatant contain pollutants?
Yes, infranatant often contains higher concentrations of pollutants due to sedimentation.
What tools are needed to collect supernatant?
Tools like pipettes and siphons are commonly used for collecting supernatant.
How do the uses of supernatant and infranatant differ in wastewater treatment?
Supernatant might be analyzed for chemical content, whereas infranatant is often checked for sludge and sediment characteristics.
What role does centrifugation play in separating supernatant and infranatant?
Centrifugation rapidly separates supernatant from solids, allowing clearer distinction between layers.
What challenges might arise in dealing with infranatant?
Challenges include ensuring complete separation and preventing contamination during collection.
What does the analysis of infranatant typically reveal?
It often reveals the concentration of heavier particles or pollutants that settle below the liquid.
Is the term infranatant common in scientific literature?
No, the term infranatant is much less common and more specific than supernatant.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
