Are you in the market for a new laboratory vacuum pump? Perhaps you need more information on which pump to choose. A new video, produced by Lab Manager, may provide valuable insights. View the video directly above, or click here.
Tag Archives: rotary evaporation
KNF to Host Lab Pumps & Applications Symposium in Collaboration with Local ACS
Pumps are an important component in practically all chemistry laboratories. Yet for such a common device, selecting the correct pump for a particular application is often a challenge.
Join us on Nov. 4th for a Laboratory Pumps & Applications Symposium
KNF Neuberger, in collaboration with the Trenton Section of the American Chemical Society, will be hosting a symposium on “Laboratory Pumps and Applications”. The presentation will focus on taking the mystery out of laboratory pumps, looking at the most common applications and the pumps that best support them. Discussion topics include:
- What is the best pump type for my application?
- What accessories are available to help me optimize the performance of the pump in my application?
- What are the signs that my pump is in need of maintenance or repair?
- And much more!
LOCATION
This exclusive, co-sponsored event will be held at KNF’s state-of-the-art, 50,000 square ft. manufacturing facility at Two Black Forest Road in Trenton, NJ.
SCHEDULE
5:30 pm – Mixer with drinks and appetizers, plant tours and product demos
6:30 pm – Dinner and presentation
7:30 pm – Coffee and dessert
Refreshments and dinner are complimentary. There will also be a drawing for door prizes.
PRESENTER
Roland Anderson is the Laboratory Products Manager and applications specialist at KNF Neuberger, Inc.
RSVP
Reservations are required, as seating is limited, so be sure to register now!
Pittcon 2015: KNF Technology Enables Faster, Simpler Rotary Evaporation Process
Greetings from NOLA! The KNF Lab team is checking in from the #pittcon15 Conference and Expo, booth #2211, in balmy New Orleans, LA. Among the new products, applications, and all-things-lab we’re looking forward to seeing this week, it’s also a great opportunity to raise awareness about our own innovations and contributions to the scientific community.
KNF’s RC 900 rotary evaporator
While some exhibitors may be launching products sure to be marketed as the “latest and greatest” this year, KNF is providing a simple, yet time-saving update to our already well-received RC 900 rotary evaporator.
As is the foundation of our business, we’ve listened to the industry, and learned how we can make lab practices easier. This continued research led to the development of an upgraded memory system, which saves precious time in the lab. Even though we’ve seen the amazed faces the RC 900’s features cause, we’re proud to announce that this memory function will provide a new level of simplified rotary evaporation.
While rotary evaporation often requires numerous flask exchanges, the process parameters sometimes don’t change. The time required to exchange the flask and input the same parameters during each step could be well-spent elsewhere. To remedy this, KNF developed a memory feature for the RC 900, which saves the rotary evaporator’s current immersion depth and rotation speed. Pressing the button on the Bluetooth-enabled wireless remote control allows the flask to be changed quickly, easily and reliably during iterative processes, as the instrument automatically re-sets to the previous depth and speed. Consequently, lab scientists need to simply press the button, and the RC 900 will take care of the rest.
Learn more about the RC 900, or our full line of diaphragm vacuum and liquid pumps and systems for laboratory applications. And don’t forget to drop by the KNF booth this week!
How to Select a Pump for Rotary Evaporation
Evaporation is one of the most common tasks performed in a chemistry laboratory. But, how do you go about selecting the correct vacuum pump for your rotary evaporator? Or, if you already have a vacuum pump, how do you know whether it is well-suited for this application?
The key to correctly selecting and sizing a vacuum pump for rotary evaporation can be found in your answers to the following four questions:
What solvents are you working with?
This is important due to the different boiling points of solvents. Solvents with a low boiling point, like acetone, methylene chloride and pentane, do not require as deep of an end vacuum to evaporate as solvents such as acetonitrile, benzene and chloroform. The removal of solvents with high boiling points, such as water, DMSO, DMF and toluene requires a relatively deep end vacuum. You must ensure that the pump is capable of reaching an end vacuum deep enough to remove the target solvents efficiently. For reference, see the Boiling Points Table.
This topic then naturally progresses to the need for chemical compatibility. Based on the solvent vapors going through the pump, one can determine the best materials for a long, trouble-free service life. Dry, oil-free pumps offer significant advantages in this area in comparison to rotary vane and water aspirators. In addition, they can feature premium, corrosion-resistant wetted parts, are easily maintained on site, and do not create hazardous waste.
What is the size of your evaporation flask?
This question allows you to select the best sized pump for your application. Bigger isn’t always better. A pump that is too large or has too high of a flow capacity for a given application is difficult to control, terribly inefficient and more expensive to own and operate. On the other hand, a pump that’s sized too small or doesn’t have enough flow capacity will slow the evaporation and lead to longer processing times. A pump that is used for a 250 mL flask is probably not the best pump for use with a 20 L evaporation flask, and vice versa.
What is the temperature of your heating bath?
The goal is to determine whether or not the pump is able to provide the necessary vacuum level and handle the vapor temperatures. The closer the bath temperature is to the boiling point of the solvent, the faster the rate of evaporation. If the mixture is not sensitive to elevated temperatures, increasing the bath temperature will speed the process and reduce the need for a deep vacuum pump. This may have an effect on which pump is best for the job.
How do you want to control the vacuum?
Manual, two-point, or adaptive control? Vacuum control allows for optimization of the vacuum level in the system. Optimum vacuum level shortens evaporation times and provides superior product yields. Control of the vacuum also reduces bumping and enables greater solvent recovery and repeatability.
- Manual vacuum control involves the use of a stop cock or manual valve to adjust the vacuum level based on visual cues. Using this method, you will need to monitor throughout the process as the vacuum requirements may change throughout the evaporation.
- Two point or on/off vacuum control allows the vacuum in the system to cycle between a high and low set point by turning the pump on and off. This method allows you to leave the process unattended once the min/max settings are determined.
- Adaptive vacuum control provides the best results in terms of separation, speed and solvent recovery, and allows you to leave the process unattended once set. This type of control modifies the speed of the pump to precisely match the requirements of the process. It is the most accurate method; allowing for the system to operate at a specified vacuum level while responding to changing conditions without the need to monitor and adjust settings.
Ask An Expert
With answers to these five questions, you are now prepared talk to your supplier about proper pump selection, or to evaluate the suitability of the pump you already have. You can also use our easy online tool at www.labpumps.com. Once there, click on the “Rotary Evaporator” icon, and enter your answers from the questions above. After clicking “Submit”, you will see a list of KNF vacuum pumps that meet your criteria. For further support, please contact us.
RC 900 Rotary Evaporator Earns Red Dot Award for Product Design
We’ve seen the favorable impressions from the lab industry; we’ve heard the positive reviews from the academics who tested it. And while our customers currently put it through its paces, it’s a great honor to announce the RC 900 has won a Red Dot Award for product design. The RC 900 was selected from a pool of 4,815 applications, from 53 countries, so we don’t take this internationally-recognized and well-respected award lightly.
The reasons behind the award winning design, however, come from a combination of two great voices: the product designers at KNF Neuberger, and…you. That’s right, our design team was wise enough to simply ask our customers what they were looking for in their next rotary evaporator. As pump manufacturers, part of our mission has been to develop vacuum pumps that connect to rotary evaporation devices. Therefore, we’ve been hearing from customers for years about simple fixes that could improve their process.
The RC 900 is the result of these conversations. The instrument has all the traits of a KNF product; it’s built extremely well, has a very long product life, and is backed by KNF’s global support system. Simultaneously, it addresses major -and minor- “pain points” for lab scientists who spend the greatest amount of time with these products. After beta testing from our esteemed colleagues at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, in Germany, and Oxford University in England, for further refinement, we’re extremely proud of the final product.
For example, some of the enhanced features on the RC 900 include:
- Added safety with wireless remote control. Thanks to a Bluetooth remote control, you can simply dial in the characteristics the instrument needs to perform to – even from outside a closed fume hood. Touchscreen operation makes this job even easier.
- Easy, fast flask exchange. Flasks can be exchanged quickly and easily, thanks to a new fastening clip that allows users to simply push the flask into the retainer until it locks into place. Removal is just as easy; to release, lift the fastening clip and remove the flask. A safety catch prevents the flask from slipping accidentally during removal.
- Fully adjustable flask angle. Different flask sizes require adjustable pivoting to ensure the flask is properly immersed in the water or oil bath. Now, the optimum position can be set with ease using a fully adjustable control knob that adjusts the angle of the flask.
- Space-saving, minimal footprint. Space on the bench is prime real estate. The reduced footprint of the RC 900 requires little bench space, and in return allows for a safer –and more organized- workspace.
Therefore, the Red Dot Award is validation for the effort we proudly put into the new RC 900 rotary evaporator. The combination of KNF ingenuity, and the strength of the customer input, has led to an instrument that leads the way into the new level of efficiency and effectiveness during rotary evaporation.
To learn more about the RC 900 rotary evaporator, visit www.KNFusa.com/RC900.
ACS Fall, from the show floor: New Rotary Evaporator Earns Attention; Our First Sweepstakes Winner Earns some Cash
Day two from the floor of the 248th ACS National Meeting & Exposition has arrived, and we’re excited by the attention our new RC 900 Rotary Evaporator has received. As pictured below, the KNF Lab team has been demonstrating the RC 900’s simplified and efficient operation here at booth #837. Ask about the wireless remote, touchscreen, or easy flask exchange.
Susan Jones, Cathrine Jarinko, Kate Harrigan and John Hendricks, of the University of the Sciences, upon seeing the RC 900 Rotary Evaporator’s wireless remote for the first time, as demonstrated by Roland Anderson.
We’ve heard quite a few “oohs and aahs” over the features the product provides. For example, the simplified flask exchange has drawn more than one attendee to comment on how much easier it will make any chemist’s life. Also, we’ve seen students and well-seasoned chemists alike marveling at the wireless, Bluetooth–enabled controller with the ability to operate the instrument while the sash is closed. And though a seemingly innocuous feature, we had one attendee compliment the RC 900’s bath, which was designed with walls that are perpendicular to its base. Therefore, while being carried, it helps to prevent spills. Regarding the sleek design, one attendee simply said, “wow, that’s beautiful!”
Also, it’s time to announce the first winner of our giveaway, taking place during ACS Fall. Sharon Kirk, from the University of Utah, congrats! You’ve won the first of four Visa Gift Cards. If you have not yet entered the sweepstakes, stop by the KNF booth (#837) today or tomorrow, and check back to The Pump Post blog to find out if you’re a winner.
To learn more about the new RC 900 Rotary Evaporator, or our full line of vacuum and liquid pumps and systems for the laboratory applications, visit www.knfusa.com. And don’t forget to drop by the booth this week!
ACS Fall: Analytical Chemists Gather in San Francisco
We’re checking in from sunny San Francisco, California, before the 248th ACS National Meeting & Exposition starts. Setup for KNF booth #837 is just about complete, and we’re excited to see the Moscone Center fill later this evening with more than 16,000 chemists, chemical engineers, academicians, graduate and undergraduate students, and many other scientific professionals.
KNF booth featuring the RC 900 Rotary Evaporator
ACS Fall provides an “ear-to-the-ground” look at the state of the lab marketplace, allowing attendees and exhibitors alike to take the proverbial pulse of the industry. Among the lab innovations on display will be our new RC 900 Rotary Evaporator (pictured). We’re excited to create some buzz by launching the RC 900 during the conference, and we’re even more excited to see first-hand reactions from so many laboratory chemists.
Learn more about the new RC 900, or our full line of diaphragm vacuum and liquid pumps and systems for laboratory applications. And don’t forget to drop by the KNF booth this week!
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