Laboratory Equipment & Services Information System by Centralized Laboratory Management Office (CeLMO)

The rotary evaporator consists of a motor that rotates the flask containing the liquid sample. The flask is connected to a water-cooled condenser that cools and condenses the vapor that is evaporated from the liquid.

In rotary evaporation, vacuum use to alter the pressure. Lower pressure reduces the boiling point of the solvent sufficiently enough so that the distillation can be carried out at a lower temperature. This helps save time and energy.

A rotary evaporator (rotavap) is an equipment primarily used to remove solvent from a sample through “evaporation under reduced pressure”.