Rotary evaporator efficient distillation through high-end technology

Construction of a rotary evaporator

The main components of a rotary evaporator system are the heating bath, the steam tube with evaporator flask and the vacuum pump. The latter can sometimes be purchased together with the rotary evaporator, but in some models it is not included. The construction basically consists of the following parts:

• Heating bath (mostly with water, but under certain circumstances also with l)
• Evaporator flask with steam pipe
• Drop catcher to prevent any solvent that may be foaming up from splashing into the cooling coil.
• Rotating shaft
• Cooling body
• Woulff bottle protecting the vacuum pump from condensed liquid
• Collecting flask
• Vacuum pump with vacuum controller
• Lift to lower the evaporating flask into the water bath (can be electrical or mechanical)

The solution to be separated is filled into the evaporator flask, which is then attached to the rotating shaft together with the drop catcher. When the apparatus is operated, the evaporated solvent rises through the steam pipe, condenses in the cooler and then collects in the collecting flask. The evaporator flask can be lifted out of the water bath or immersed in it using the lift.

Rotary evaporator function

The most important components of the rotary evaporator are, as mentioned above, the heating bath, the steam tube (with evaporation flask at the bottom), the vacuum pump or the cooler with vacuum attachment. In the apparatus, the evaporating flask is heated, which causes the substance to be distilled (i.e. the solvent in the solute) to evaporate in the heating bath. This distillation or vapour flows through the steam pipe directly into the condenser, where it forms a precipitate on the cooling surface. The condensate is collected in the collecting flask. The separation of the substances is achieved by the fact that their boiling points differ and some substances evaporate more quickly at a given temperature, while the others still remain. By applying a vacuum, solvents can evaporate even faster than at normal pressure. In this way, the necessary heat for the evaporation of the solvents is reached more quickly. The difference between this process in a rotary evaporator and a normal (vacuum) distillation apparatus is that the latter has an approximately constant temperature. In the rotary evaporator, on the other hand, most of the heat supplied is used to evaporate the liquid film that is formed by the rotation on the flask wall.

How a rotary evaporator is used

A rotary evaporator is basically a vacuum distillation apparatus whose evaporator flask is set in rotation and rotates around its own axis. There are two main advantages to this:

• Vacuuming allows evaporation at lower temperatures, which is important when the gelled substance is temperature sensitive.
• Due to the rotation, a steady, thin film of liquid forms on the flask wall. The total surface area of the liquid increases and evaporation is faster.

In principle, solids as well as liquid substances can be separated from the solvents with this apparatus. This means that they are used in chemistry, scientific research, industry and occasionally even in gastronomy.

Note: However, the rotary evaporator is not suitable for some applications: If the boiling points of the components to be separated are too close together, separation is not possible. An example of this is mixtures of methanol and ethanol, for which other processes are necessary.

Buy Rotary Evaporator Manufacturer in the MedSolut.com assortment

Are you looking for a particular brand of rotary evaporator for your laboratory? MedSolut.com has devices from all leading manufacturers ready for you. Upon request, our expert advisors will be happy to inform you about the advantages and disadvantages of each company.

Heidolph

With Heidolph we have one of the market leaders for rotary evaporators in our programme. The French company has outstanding expertise in this field and convinces with innovative new developments. The Heidolph rotary evaporators can be divided into the product lines Hei-VAP Core, Hei-VAP Expert, Hei-VAP Ultimate, Hei-VAP Expert Control and Hei-VAP Ultimate Control. You can configure the systems according to your needs using the plug-and-play system. For industrial use, there is a range of particularly powerful grorotation evaporators.

IKA

The IKA Group manufactures high quality laboratory equipment for various applications, ranging from shredders, magnetic tubes and heating technology to the rotary evaporators discussed here. You will find a wide range of products: from entry-level evaporators like the RV 3 to automatic systems with integrated vacuum controllers.

KNF

KNF Neuberger stands for safe, excellent laboratory solutions and also has two different rotary evaporators in its portfolio. The RC 600 and RC 900 models feature an innovative piston exchange system and are particularly user-friendly.

Phoenix Instrument

The rotary evaporator from Phoenix Instrument has a 1500 m cooling surface, a motor-driven lift and a heating bath that can be heated up to 180 C. The lift is equipped with a safety function. The lift is equipped with a safety function and automatically lifts the flask out of the heating bath in the event of a power failure.

Shimadzu

The Japanese manufacturer Shimadzu is a specialist for instrumental analytics and is constantly setting new standards in the field of laboratory technology with its innovative technologies. At MedSolut we have two rotary evaporators from Shimadzu available for you, each with motorised lift, 3-litre heating bath and integrated vacuum controller.

Buy rotary evaporator versions and variants

The basic equipment is always similar, but there are also different versions depending on the manufacturer and product series. Are you unsure which product variant is necessary or suitable for your application? Our experts from the service team will be happy to advise you without any obligation.

Hand lift or motor lift

The lifting and swivelling device with which the evaporator flask is positioned in the heating bath can be either mechanically or electrically driven. In the first case it is a manual lift, in the second a motorised lift. The electric drive offers an additional degree of comfort, but is usually associated with a higher price.

Integrated vacuum controller

You can either purchase a rotary evaporator without a vacuum pump and connect it separately or choose a system with an integrated pump. In addition, in some cases a control unit for the vacuum pump is integrated on the control panel, so that pressure, temperature and rotation can be conveniently controlled from one place. If you want an integrated vacuum controller, we recommend, for example, the models Hei-VAP Expert Control, Hei-VAP Ultimate Control or the RV 10 auto series from IKA.

Automatic module

If you need to distil larger quantities or over a longer period of time, an additional automatic module can be a helpful addition. For example, depending on the type of unit, additional solvent is automatically added to the evaporator flask as soon as a certain quantity has evaporated. At the same time, the distillate is continuously discharged into a collection tank and the residue in the evaporation flask is extracted at regular intervals. This makes it possible to run the appliance in unattended continuous operation. If you would like to use this function, we recommend, for example, one of the Distimatic packages from Heidolph.

Rotary evaporator price What can I expect to pay?

The price of a rotary evaporator can vary greatly depending on the features and add-ons you need. Some manufacturers offer packages with accessories such as a vacuum pump, control panel, hoses or glassware, which are naturally more expensive. An entry-level model such as the RV 3 FLEX from IKA, for example, is available from around 2,100; at Heidolph you pay just over 3,000 for the basic model Hei VAP Core. The professional versions and packages usually range from 6,000-12,000 , such as the RV 10 auto pro FLEX model from IKA with vacuum controller for 8,526.00 or the Hei VAP Expert Control Package Automatic Evaporation with vacuum pump and recirculating chiller for 9,390.00.

Our experts from the MedSolut team will be happy to advise you on a sensible range of functions for your application!

Accessories for rotary evaporators

At MedSolut.com you can get numerous accessories and extensions for your rotary evaporator, so that you can equip it according to your needs. Of course, you can always order additional or spare parts from the appropriate manufacturer from us afterwards. For example, ask for:

• Evaporating or collecting flasks
• Distillation spiders
• Drip catchers or foam stoppers
• Woulff bottles
• Protective covers
• Hose sets
• Sealing rings
• Heating bath fluid
• Vacuum pumps
• Vacuum valves
• Coolers
• Control and monitoring units
• terminals
• corresponding software

Our aim is to sell high-performance technology with a long service life. This means that we are also available after commissioning as your contact when it comes to maintenance and the replacement of components.

Buying a rotary evaporator we are happy to help you!

A rotary evaporator has become indispensable in many laboratories, as it enables the rapid distillation of solvents. Whether you are looking for a basic model or an industrial large-scale evaporator, MedSolut.com has a wide range of products for you. If you wish, we can help you find the right model for your application. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation by phone (+49 30 2096579 00) or e-mail([email protected]).