rotovap
The rotovap, short for rotary evaporator, is an essential piece of laboratory equipment used primarily for the efficient and gentle removal of solvents from samples through evaporation. It consists of a round-bottom flask that is heated to vaporize the solvent, a condenser that cools the vapor back into a liquid, and a motor that rotates the flask to increase the surface area and speed up the process. Technological features include digital temperature control, variable rotation speed, and vacuum pressure regulation, which ensure precise and optimized conditions for a variety of applications. Common uses include chemical synthesis, pharmaceutical research, and the production of essential oils, where the gentle and controlled process of the rotovap helps to preserve sensitive compounds and improve product quality.