Here is an article by Siskiyou Sam about a DYI rotary evaporator that he designed and built, and which he originally gave us permission to post on our original SPR site. I thought it was good enough to ask permission to share on Graywolf’s Lair as well, so here it is:
Howdy!
Several lifetimes ago, your wizardly host, Graywolf, posted a challenge on his former site @ http://skunkpharmresearch.com/the-evapanator-rotary-thin-film-evaporator/
He said and I quote, “Here is my conceptual of the purdy thang! For those of ya’ll who understand it at a glance and are off to do it one better, ah hope you will share.“ Inspired by the thought of doing “one better” I headed off to the shop to see if I could pay it forward.
Well here it is folks, took me over a year and now I’m sharing with the hope that…1. All you tinkers out there will build your own, enjoy it’s use, improve on the design and share. 2. I can crowd source a manufacturing partner. (Contact: laboregon@gmail.com)
The Rotovap Maximus is a thin film evaporator that will currently remove and recapture (when used with a cold trap) 1 liter of alcohol in 4 hours. The entire process can be viewed through the polycarbonate lid. From cold start to 110 F. in less than 60 seconds. Variable rotation speed to 40 RMP. Thermocouple controlled.
I picked up the provisional patent, so it’s “Patent Pending” at the moment. While this thing works very well for removing and recapturing alcohol it also can be used by chefs and bartenders for low temperature flavor capture, extractions, reductions, infusions and who knows what else.
Siskiyou Sam
Siskiyou Sam’s Rotovape Maximus rotary evaporator
Other side view of Siskiyou Sam Rotary Evaporator
Front view of Siskiyou Sam Rotary Evaporator
Siskiyou Sam Rotary Evaporator schematic and BOM