IKA Rotary Evaporator RV 10 auto pro V-C, Set with Vacuum Pump, Heating Bath and Coated Glassware, 0010004812

Anyone who distils, concentrates or recovers solvents in the laboratory every day wants to worry as little as possible about one thing: manual vacuum control. The IKA RV 10 auto pro V-C rotary evaporator takes over exactly this step. The RV 10 auto pro FLEX drive unit combines a motorised lift with safety-stop function, an integrated 4 litre heating bath up to 180 degrees Celsius and an automatic vacuum controller that adapts the process pressure to the actual boiling point. The set also includes the matching VACSTAR digital vacuum pump and coated vertical glassware, so that the combination of drive, vacuum generation and glassware is ready for use straight away, without individual components first having to be put together and matched to one another. For laboratory managers who operate several identical distillation stations or have to document process parameters via the available interfaces, the auto level thus offers the highest reproducibility within the IKA rotary evaporator series.

Selection guide: RV 3, RV 8 or RV 10, and which specification level?

The IKA rotary evaporator series differs mainly in three points: the type of lift (manual or motorised), the depth of control (eco, digital or auto) and whether a vacuum pump and recirculating chiller are already part of the package. The RV 10 auto pro V-C is at the top of the line here: motorised lift, automatic vacuum control and an already integrated vacuum controller with a measuring accuracy of ±1 mbar. The following overview classifies the five common complete packages.

Differentiation within the RV family

Anyone who does not need full automation but is still looking for a motorised, complete package will find, with the IKA RV 10 digital V Starter Solution rotary evaporator the digital level of the same size, but there with uncoated glass and, as standard, including recirculating chiller and vacuum controller. Conversely, anyone who already owns a vacuum pump, a heating bath or a set of glassware and is only looking for the drive is better served by the pure drive unit IKA RV 10 auto pro FLEX rotary evaporator which brings the same auto control without glassware and pump. Since no recirculating chiller is included in the RV 10 auto pro V-C, with limited or expensive cooling water supply it is worth a look at the IKA HRC 2 lite refrigerated heating circulator, which combines a cooling and heating circuit in one device and can also be shared with other laboratory equipment at the same workstation. In this way, the equipment can be supplemented specifically with exactly the component that is actually missing in the respective laboratory, instead of procuring a complete second package.

Typical applications

The RV 10 auto pro V-C rotary evaporator is suitable wherever distillations under vacuum are to run reproducibly and with as little manual intervention as possible:

• Solvent recovery in organic synthesis, with automatic adjustment of the vacuum to the boiling point
• Concentrating extracts in pharmaceuticals, natural product chemistry and quality assurance
• Serial measurements with process parameters requiring documentation thanks to the RS 232 and USB interface
• Continuous laboratory operation with frequently changing solvents, where the timer secures defined process times
• Chemistry, pharmaceuticals, bioindustry, research and development as well as production and quality assurance as typical operating environments of IKA rotary evaporators

Automatic vacuum control: what the integrated controller does in everyday use

In classic, manual distillation under vacuum, the operator has to keep an eye on the pressure during the entire evaporation process and readjust it step by step as soon as the composition of the mixture in the flask changes and the boiling point shifts with it. The integrated vacuum controller of the RV 10 auto pro V-C takes over this adjustment automatically, with a measuring accuracy of ±1 mbar. This not only reduces the operating effort but also lowers the risk of bumping and foaming, because the pressure is brought up in a controlled manner to the actual boiling point instead of jumping abruptly to a fixed target value. In combination with the timer and the tight speed tolerance of ±1 rpm in the lower and ±1 per cent in the upper speed range, distillation runs can be repeated almost identically from batch to batch, an aspect that counts particularly in quality assurance and with validated processes.

Use, installation and maintenance

The drive unit is designed for operation at ambient temperatures of 5 to 40 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of up to 80 per cent, protection class IP 20 according to DIN EN 60529. The rotary evaporator therefore belongs on a dry, level laboratory bench with sufficient space for the heating bath, glassware and the separate VACSTAR digital vacuum pump. The heating bath holds up to 4 litres and should be checked regularly for water level and limescale deposits, depending on the operating temperature. Wearing parts such as the RV 10.8001 seal on the vapour duct must be checked for vacuum tightness, since even small leaks measurably worsen the ultimate pressure quality achievable with the VACSTAR digital. The drive unit is operated at 100 to 240 volts at 50 or 60 hertz and draws up to 100 watts, and in standby the power consumption falls to 3.3 watts. The separately operated vacuum pump needs its own mains connection with up to 130 watts power consumption, so two independent sockets should be planned at the installation location. The Micro-USB and RS-232 interfaces allow connection to laboratory software for process documentation without any additional hardware being needed.

Technical details

Scope of delivery

The package bundles drive, vacuum generation and glassware in one order: besides the RV 10 auto pro FLEX drive unit with integrated heating bath, the VACSTAR digital vacuum pump (ident no. 0020016236) is part of the scope of delivery, as is the coated RV 10.10 glassware. A separate recirculating chiller is not included.

• 1 x RV 10 auto pro FLEX drive unit with integrated 4 litre heating bath, room temperature to 180 °C
• 1 x IKA VACSTAR digital vacuum pump (ident no. 0020016236)
• 1 x RV 10.10 glassware, vertical, coated
• 1 x RV 10.88 NS 29 clamp
• 1 x RV 10.70 vapour duct tube (NS 29/32)
• 1 x RV 10.8001 seal
• 2 x vacuum hose, 0.55 m each
• 2 x cooling water drain hose, 1 m each
• 1 x USB cable

Regulatory information

As an electrical device, the rotary evaporator is subject to the WEEE Directive (ElektroG). The IKA WEEE registration number is DE 66784213. At the end of its service life, the device is disposed of professionally within the framework of the statutory take-back obligations, and disposal with household waste is not permitted.

Investment logic: what is in the set, what is still missing?

With drive, heating bath and vacuum pump, the RV 10 auto pro V-C already covers the three most cost-intensive components of a complete distillation station. For ongoing operation, usually only the cooling water supply remains open: where tap water is scarce, expensive or not permanently available, a recirculating chiller such as the IKA HRC 2 lite complements the closed cooling circuit without anything having to be changed in the basic equipment. For laboratories with higher sample throughput, a second set of glassware as a spare set is also recommended, so that the next batch can already be running while one flask is being cleaned. Since the auto level is already the highest specification level within the RV 10 series, the next sensible step in practice is usually not a change of device but precisely this addition of a cooling circuit and spare glassware for continuous operation.

Frequently asked questions

• Is a vacuum pump included in the scope of delivery? Yes, the VACSTAR digital (ident no. 0020016236) with an ultimate pressure of 2 mbar is part of the set and is matched to the integrated vacuum control of the drive unit.
• Do I need a recirculating chiller in addition? No cooler is included in the scope of delivery. Without your own sufficiently cold cooling water supply, a separate recirculating chiller such as the IKA HRC 2 lite is recommended.
• How accurately can the temperature be set? According to the data sheet, the setting accuracy of the set temperature is 1 kelvin, and the heating bath holds up to 4 litres and heats from room temperature to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Can the device be integrated into laboratory software? The drive unit has an RS-232 interface, a Micro-USB interface and an analogue output for connection to measurement and control systems.
• Is the glassware coated? Yes, the set includes the coated vertical glassware RV 10.10, which offers additional splinter protection in the event of breakage under vacuum.
• How does the device differ from the RV 10 digital V Starter Solution? The RV 10 auto pro V-C offers automatic vacuum control and coated glass, whereas the Starter Solution package additionally includes, as standard, a recirculating chiller, vacuum controller and stand, but with uncoated glass and digital instead of automatic control.
• How often should seals and wearing parts be checked? The manufacturer does not specify a fixed interval. In practice, a visual inspection of the RV 10.8001 seal is recommended at every glassware change and also as soon as the ultimate pressure reached noticeably worsens.
• Which mains connections are required? The drive unit and the VACSTAR digital vacuum pump are operated separately and therefore require two mains connections, each in the range of 100 to 240 volts at 50 or 60 hertz.

Individual requirements & procurement service

For additional or different sets of glassware, replacement seals, wearing parts for the VACSTAR digital or a suitable vacuum controller retrofit, we will gladly support you through our procurement service.