From:
James Kaufman <jkaufman**At_Symbol_Here**LABSAFETYINSTITUTE.ORG>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] [NAOSMM] Rotovap Vacuums and Condensers
Date:
Jan 8, 2024 18:41 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAHk9oESXyD-6WLXTC2XPgfXhe8XP6Tq1XqwZ=ybYo5VqydG=nQ**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<LV2PR01MB774182874A8B4E29B405FB3CC76B2**At_Symbol_Here**LV2PR01MB7741.prod.exchangelabs.com>
I recall when the town of Newburyport, MA put in water discharge restrictions that caused Strem Chemical Co to stop using a water aspirator and purchase a separate vacuum pump. They added a cold trap to the line.
Why don't you do an experiment and put a cold trap between your Rotovap and the house vacuum? ... Jim
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James A.
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Hello, fellow NAOSMMites!
Our school has recently begun questioning the equipment and procedures we use when rotovap-ing in our organic labs. Currently, we evaporate off using the house vacuum and condense using a cold-water coil condenser that is just connected to the domestic cold-water
supply. I would just like some feedback and input as to what some of you are using and why.
For context, our science building is about 20 years old, and for many years has had a history of causing many latex/rubber/elastic objects to deteriorate in a short amount of time and in weird ways (anyone else have melting cabinet bumpers?) Administration
and facilities have done a few things to try to get to the bottom of what could be causing this, and the most recent thing they've hit on is that it could possibly be vapors from the rotovap leaking into the air somewhere that is contributing to this. Our
one-and-only organic professor admitted that only a fraction of the solvents that are boiled off are actually condensed and recaptured by the current condensing setup, so administration asked facilities to verify that the house vacuum vents outside (and not
just into the pump room) which they were able to do. Even with that information, they are pursuing the idea of purchasing a stand-alone vacuum to put in a hood to pull the vacuum for the rotovap. In my mind, this would be a less optimal solution than using
the house vac, at least from the standpoint of trying to release as few solvents into the building air as possible.
We are also looking at solutions to increase condensation rates such as an electric water chiller, which I think
does make sense, but I'm also interested in hearing what you use for that.
Thanks in advance for any input!
Jeremy
-----
Jeremy Vanderhyde
Science Laboratory Services &
Building Manager, Generac Hall
Wisconsin Lutheran College
8800 W. Bluemound Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Work: 414-443-8766
Cell: 414-885-7762
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