Which Vacuum Dessicator is best for Your Lab?
A lab vacuum cleaner is not an over-the-counter item and many people are unsure of which type best suits their needs. This post will explore the many possibilities out there and hopefully help you find the right desiccator for your operation.
Choosing a vacuuming system can be quite difficult if you don’t know what to look for and how they work, or possibly even what they do exactly. You can save yourself some time by knowing this information before making a purchase. Here are few tips to help you find the right vacuum desiccator for your lab.
Consider Your Requirements
Just like the name suggests, a vacuum desiccator is used to remove water from your samples. However, “vacuum” is a bit of an ambiguous word. How much vacuum do you need? If you’re drying out small specimens, you may be fine with only a moderate amount of vacuum pressure to get the job done.
Overall Size of the Desiccator
Another important factor to consider for your vacuum desiccator purchase is size. How many desiccators will you need for your lab? And how much space do you have for those units? Most manufacturers provide dimensions in the product description section. You can purchase a desktop or Benchtop desiccator that is small enough to sit on a tabletop or countertop. On the other hand a bulk desiccator can hold many items in one container.
Find Best Quality Desiccator You Can Afford
If you are concerned about contaminants or if you are working with sensitive material, then you may want to go with a vacuum desiccator that is of higher quality. There are two main reasons why you should choose a high-grade vacuum desiccator.
A poor quality desiccator may have limitations when degassing (removing gas from) your samples. Secondly, if for any reason valves or vents fail on a cheap vacuum desiccator, then your samples will be contaminated; this is especially true for biological specimens which need to be kept sterile.
Purpose of Vacuum Desiccator for Your Lab
There are many uses for a vacuum desiccator in a lab. You may wish to remove any water or moisture from your samples; in that case, you need an oven-grade vacuum desiccator. You might be using a vacuum desiccator to dry solvents.
In this case, you have many options to consider including solvent-resistant oil desiccators (great for organic solvents but not so great for other liquids) or other forms of ambient-temperature vacuums such as a stainless steel or aluminum Teflon oil desiccators (great for drying both organic and inorganic substances).
Vacuum desiccators are important tools in any laboratory and should be considered an investment. They help the lab in many ways including removing water, drying solvents, and even protecting sensitive samples. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right vacuum desiccator for your needs.
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