Organomation introduces a free Excel-based tool that estimates sample evaporation times for nitrogen blowdown and centrifugal vacuum evaporation, helping laboratories evaluate which method may best fit their sample preparation needs.
Organomation, a leading manufacturer of nitrogen blowdown evaporators since 1959, has introduced a new Evaporation Time Comparison Tool designed to help laboratories compare estimated sample drying times using an N-EVAP nitrogen evaporator and a Labconco CentriVap centrifugal vacuum concentrator.
Selecting the right evaporation method can have a significant impact on laboratory efficiency, sample throughput, and daily workflows. However, comparing evaporation technologies isn't always straightforward. Solvent properties, starting sample volume, operating temperature, and batch capacity can all influence processing times.
Organomation's new tool provides a practical way to evaluate these variables and estimate how long sample concentration may take with each method.
The free Excel-based calculator allows users to customize their comparison based on their laboratory's specific requirements. By entering a few sample conditions, users can compare estimated evaporation times for a 24-position N-EVAP and a Standard CentriVap system.
The tool supports six commonly used solvents:
Users can adjust the starting sample volume, bath temperature, and number of samples to generate estimated evaporation times for each method. The calculator then compares the estimated total processing time, accounting for the number of batches required to process the selected sample volume.
These results can help laboratories better understand how their sample preparation requirements may influence evaporation time and evaluate which technology is worth considering for their workflows.
Nitrogen blowdown and centrifugal vacuum evaporation are both widely used sample concentration techniques, but they approach the process differently.
Nitrogen blowdown evaporation uses a controlled stream of nitrogen directed over samples, often in a heated water bath, to facilitate solvent evaporation. Organomation's N-EVAP systems are designed to concentrate multiple samples simultaneously, making them a practical option for laboratories performing routine sample preparation.
Centrifugal vacuum evaporation combines centrifugal force, vacuum, and temperature to facilitate solvent removal. Labconco's CentriVap systems are designed to process multiple samples under vacuum, with available rotor configurations accommodating different sample volumes and batch sizes.
Neither technology is universally faster under every condition. The time required to concentrate samples depends on several factors, including the solvent, starting volume, operating temperature, equipment configuration, and number of samples processed.
By providing a side-by-side comparison, Organomation's tool helps laboratories explore these differences using conditions relevant to their own applications.
The Evaporation Time Comparison Tool uses two data-based approaches to estimate processing times.
For the N-EVAP, evaporation rates were derived from solvent-specific testing performed using a 24-position water bath system. Testing was conducted at each solvent's recommended bath temperature and at 20°C, with the resulting data analyzed using linear regression to estimate evaporation rates.
For the CentriVap, estimates are based on regression models developed from evaporation data originally published by Labconco for its Standard CentriVap Vacuum Concentrator. The published testing used a preheated chamber and a diaphragm pump rated at 22 mBar ultimate vacuum and 82 L/min displacement.
The calculator accounts for the different batch capacities available for centrifugal evaporation at different starting sample volumes, allowing users to compare estimated total processing times rather than simply comparing the duration of a single batch.
Estimates are limited to the solvents, sample volumes, and temperature ranges supported by the available data. Actual evaporation times may vary depending on equipment configuration, operating conditions, and other factors. Results should be used as a guide for evaluating evaporation methods, not as a guarantee of performance.
Whether your laboratory is evaluating a new evaporation system, looking to improve sample preparation efficiency, or simply curious about how different concentration methods compare, the Evaporation Time Comparison Tool offers a convenient starting point.
By exploring different combinations of solvents, sample volumes, temperatures, and batch sizes, laboratories can better understand the potential time requirements of each method before making equipment decisions.
Download Organomation's free Evaporation Time Comparison Tool to explore estimated processing times for the N-EVAP and CentriVap based on your laboratory's sample preparation needs.
Download the Evaporation Time Comparison Tool
Questions about nitrogen blowdown evaporation or finding the right sample preparation equipment for your application? Contact Organomation's team for assistance.