We've used diaphragm pumps for our rotovaps for the last 6 years.  Very
low maintenance, quite efficient, get a great vacuum.  And you're not
wasting tons of water (since we switched, our water bills have dropped
80%).  Very good news here with the severe drought.  We use the KNF
pumps, but not sure of the model.  We've had 2 fail as a result of what
was being evaporated--very acidic materials that damaged the seals--but
that was our fault for mis-using the equipment.  We have at least 5 that
have been going strong for the entire 6 years.  Only real consideration
is venting the exhaust, since some vapors don't get condensed,
especially when the chemists forget to refill the cold finger.

Best Regards,

Jennifer A. Young, Ph.D.
Environmental Safety Officer
Targacept, Inc.
200 E. First St., Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27101-4165
336 480-2182
336 480-2113 (fax)
Jennifer.Young**At_Symbol_Here**Targacept.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Russell Vernon
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 7:17 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Vacuum Pumps for the roto-vaps

Have any of you had any experience with using a vacuum pump for a rotary
evaporator instead of a water aspirator?

I saw this site (http://www.knf.com/labrotovap.htm) that advertized
several products for this purpose (on the ACS Weekly Newsletter) and I
am asking your opinions

 

 

Thanks,

-Russ

 

Russell Vernon, Ph.D. 
UC System-wide Field Safety Working Group Chair
www.ehs.uci.edu/apps/fieldsafe/index.jsp

Laboratory / Research Safety Specialist, Integrated Waste Manager and
Interim Hazardous Materials Manager Environmental Health & Safety
University of California, Riverside 900 University Ave. 
Riverside, CA 92521 

russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu
www.ehs.ucr.edu 

Direct: (951) 827-5119
Admin: (951) 827-5528
Fax: (951) 827-5122

 

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