Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TITLE: Operating Procedure of Rotary Evaporator Origin Date: March,2010

Document Number: TMMRD–TP#6 Revision status: Current
Section: Phytochemistry Page: 1 of 5

Purpose - This procedure provides instructions how to operate rotary evaporator

Abbreviations NA – Not Applicable

Materials Reagents
none

Supplies
Moist cloth
Mild soap
Brush

Equipment
Rotary evaporator
Vacuum pump
Water bath

There are dangers associated even with simple operations such as evaporation.
Special Safety These include implosions resulting from use of glassware that contains flaws, such as
Precautions star-cracks.
Explosions may occur from concentrating unstable impurities during evaporation, for
example when rotavapping an ethereal solution containing peroxides. This can also
occur when taking certain unstable compounds, such as organic azides and
acetylides, nitro-containing compounds, molecules with strain energy, etc. to dryness.

Prepared by: Kissi Mudie Authority: EHNRI

Healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians

 Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TITLE: Operating Procedure of Rotary Evaporator Origin Date: March,2010

Document Number: TMMRD–TP#6 Revision status: Current
Section: Phytochemistry Page: 2 of 5

Procedure Step Action

1 Turn on the heating bath
2 Set to the required temperature by rotating the knob clockwise on the
heating bath and wait until the adjusted temperature is reached.
3 Turn on the Rotavapor
4 Allow the cooling water to enter the condenser (flow rate 40-50L/hr)
5 Pour the sample in to the evaporating flask
6 Connect the evaporating flask to the condenser and retighten the
handle screw
7 Connect the receiving flask to the condenser with the clip for this
purpose
8 With the electric quick-action jack, lower the evaporating flask into the
water bath
9 Turn on the vacuum controller
10 Adjust the rotation speed by rotating the rotary knob clockwise
(20-280RPM). Distillation will be started.
11 End of distillation
- Turn rotary knob to 0.
- Release the knob on the glass assembly
- Turn off the vacuum controller
- With the electric quick-action jack, raise the evaporating flask
from the water bath
- Hold the evaporating flask with one hand and loosen the
handle screw with the other hand.
- pour the sample in to the plastic container and put on water
bath adjusted at 400C
- Turn off the heating bath
- Turn off the Rotavapor
- Close the cooling water inlet.

Prepared by: Kissi Mudie Authority: EHNRI

Healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians

 Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TITLE: Operating Procedure of Rotary Evaporator Origin Date: March,2010

Document Number: TMMRD–TP#6 Revision status: Current
Section: Phytochemistry Page: 3 of 5

Maintenance Periodically

Step Action
1 Using a moist cloth clean the housing
2 Check the housing for defects (controls, plugs)
3 Visually examine tube connections. Tears, brittleness are to be
corrected by replacing with suitable new tube
4 Visually check seal KD-34 and if it is strongly worn, replace it with a
new seal
4 Cleaning seals by rinsing and drying with a soft cloth
5 Clean seals and glass components regularly, especially after boiling
delays and/or work with crystalline products
6 Clean the water bath if:
- The water bath is calcified or contaminated
- The oil in the oil bath has changed or contaminated
7 Clean the vacuum pump if the water it contains has changed or
contaminated

* Refer the operation manual for general maintenance procedures.

Procedural - Never operate the heating bath without heating medium.

Notes - Only glassware in perfect condition must be used

The rotary evaporator is a device for gently and efficiently evaporating solvents from
Principle a mixture. It consists of a heated rotating vessel (usually a large flask) which is
maintained under a vacuum though a tube connecting it to a condenser. The rotating
flask is heated by partial emersion in a hot water bath. The flask's rotation provides
improved heat transfer to the contained liquid; the rotation also strongly reduces the
occupance of 'bumps' caused by superheating of the liquid. The solvent vapors
leave the flask by the connecting tube and are condensed in the condenser section.
The condenser section is arranged so that the condensed vapors drain into another
flask where they are collected. It is a very efficient way of rapidly removing large
quantities of solvent.

Related Procedures
and Documents Users Manual of BUCHI Rotavapor

Reference Users Manual of BUCHI Rotavapor

Prepared by: Kissi Mudie Authority: EHNRI

Healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians

 Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TITLE: Operating Procedure of Rotary Evaporator Origin Date: March,2010

Document Number: TMMRD–TP#6 Revision status: Current
Section: Phytochemistry Page: 4 of 5

Name Signature and Date

Prepared by: ------------------------ -----------------------------

Reviewed by: --------------------------- -----------------------------

Approved by: -------------------------- ------------------------------

(Director of Traditional and Modern Drug Research Directorate)

Prepared by: Kissi Mudie Authority: EHNRI

Healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians

 Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

TITLE: Operating Procedure of Rotary Evaporator Origin Date: March,2010

Document Number: TMMRD–TP#6 Revision status: Current
Section: Phytochemistry Page: 5 of 5

Declaration
I, the undersigned laboratory personnel, certify that I am conducting every steps of
the procedures incorporated in this SOP after a prior reading.

Name Signature and Date

1. _______________________ ______________________
2. _______________________ ______________________
3. _______________________ ______________________
4. _______________________ ______________________
5. _______________________ ______________________

Prepared by: Kissi Mudie Authority: EHNRI

Healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians