What is rotary evaporator used for?

A rotary evaporator (also called as “rotavap” or “rotovap”) is a device used in labs for the efficient and gentle removal of solvents from samples by evaporation.

Why is a rotary evaporator rotovap used in the lab?

A rotary evaporator (rotovap) is a device used in chemical laboratories for the efficient and gentle removal of solvents from samples by evaporation.

What laboratory technique is accomplished using rotary evaporator?

rotovap
The preferred method for solvent removal in the laboratory is by use of a rotary evaporator (Figure 5.65), also known as a “rotovap”.

Where can you find a rotary evaporator in a laboratory?

They are found in almost every organic laboratory, since they allow performing this task very quickly. A typical rotary evaporator has a water bath that can be heated in either a metal container or crystallization dish. This keeps the solvent from freezing during the evaporation process.

Can a rotavap vacuum be used in a lab?

Most labs use a simple water aspirator vacuum on their rotavaps, so a rotavap cannot be used for air and water-sensitive materials unless special precautions are taken i.e. additional traps are used. In the lab, the house vacuum line, a circulation bath or a membrane pump are used as source for the vacuum (40-50 torr).

What is the working principle of the rotary evaporator?

The working principle of a rotary evaporator is not a complicated one; it works by first creating a vacuum space in the rotary glass flask.

Where is the stopcock on a rotary evaporator?

The aspirator vacuum is turned on. On most models, the vacuum on/off control is managed by turning a stopcock at the top of the condenser (left side of the above diagram). This stopcock is later also used to vent the setup after the solvent is removed.