By Aimee O'Driscoll, 09 May 2018
There are many methods that can facilitate incubator self-decontamination. We explain three of the most common: UV sterilization, moist heat sterilization, and dry heat sterilization.
By Carlton Hoyt, 30 April 2018
The vast majority of laboratory equipment manufacturers provide a list price, or a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for their products. Distributors such as Laboratory Supply Network and others are then provided with a discount from that list price as which we may purchase the equipment. But just as you may have heard about sellers on Amazon marking prices way up to offer massive “discounts” that aren’t really discounts (link), many lab equipment distributors are guilty of the same exact thing. Think that customary 10% or 20% academic / institutional discount you might get...
By Aimee O'Driscoll, 18 April 2018
A rotary evaporation system is a complex set of apparatus. Find out about the separate components involved and the role each plays in the overall setup. We cover the rotary evaporator itself, glassware, chillers, vacuum pumps and controllers, and more.
By Aimee O'Driscoll, 12 April 2018
There are some obvious cases when using water in a bath is not appropriate, but there are a few more specific cases too. We explore some scenarios where one might be tempted to use water in a bath, explain why it would be a bad idea, and suggest alternative options.
By Aimee O'Driscoll, 05 April 2018
Creating the most efficient distillation process using your rotatory evaporator doesn't always mean cranking up the speed. We explain the factors involved in choosing the optimal rotation speed for your evaporator to help you set up an efficient system.
By Aimee O'Driscoll, 30 March 2018
While researching equipment that involves temperature settings, you’ll come across various similar terms. We help you make sense of different specifications by providing definitions for common temperature terms.
By Aimee O'Driscoll, 16 March 2018
Many rotary evaporators come with a choice of coated or standard glassware. We explain some of the benefits of safety coated glassware, address some common concerns associated with its use, and suggest when it should not be used.
By Carlton Hoyt, 29 January 2018
By Carlton Hoyt, 12 January 2018
By Harmen Zijlstra, 11 January 2018
A pump well-fitted for your needs will enhance its lifetime and reduce its maintenance. There are many pump types available and deciding on the right one isn't always easy. We discuss and compare three common pump types: positive displacement, centrifugal, and turbine pumps.
By Carlton Hoyt, 19 September 2017
Imagine you’re buying a car. You find a nice car that you really like, and the dealer says that it’s a new car called a “Chicane” You’ve never heard of a Chicane, but you want to learn more about it, so you look online to see if anyone else is selling it, check reviews, and know if you’re getting a good deal, but you can’t find anything. Now imagine that Chicane is just a standard issue Ford, and the dealer was just trying to make it more difficult for you to research the competition so you didn’t realize that you could get the same thing elsewhere. How would you feel?
Perhaps you would feel deceived or like you were lied to? You probably wouldn’t want to trust that dealer either – after all, why didn’t he just tell you that it...
By Harmen Zijlstra, 19 September 2017
We explore the importance of having a controllable vacuum source as part of your rotary evaporation system. We discuss the practical and safety benefits of evaporating under vacuum versus using heat alone.
By Harmen Zijlstra, 08 September 2017
CO2 incubators can roughly be divided into two categories: water- and air-jacketed incubators. We take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each, including factors affecting practicality and performance.
By Harmen Zijlstra, 27 July 2017
When deciding which chiller pump to use with your rotary evaporation system, internal pressure is an important consideration. We explain the need to factor in the maximum pressure of your pump to help ensure you don't end up with broken glassware.
By Harmen Zijlstra, 24 July 2017
Flammable material storage refrigerators and freezers bear many similarities to explosion proof refrigerators and freezers. We explore these similarities along with the differences between the two types, and explain why one might be used over the other.