Genevac has reported very positive feedback from early adopters of its Rocket 4D – a fully automated system for automatic drying or concentration of very large volumes up to 100 litres.
Launched worldwide during the summer of 2013, Genevac has received considerable interest, from laboratories drawn by the ease of use, automated productivity and performance of the Rocket 4D.
A chemistry scale-up laboratory at a major pharma company, running kilo scale preparative SFC, was drawn by the unattended automation offered by the Rocket 4D. Traditionally removing large volumes of methanol from its sample fractions using a number of rotary evaporators required a dedicated operator to top-up dry ice in cold traps, feed the systems with more product and watch the systems continually.
The operator commented: 'With the Rocket 4D you simply load your sample, select a method, press start, and walk away – the system will do the rest.' He added that he 'got his life back' when the 4D arrived and now is able to spend his time much more productively.
A natural products research group, at a US Ivy League university, was faced with concentrating large volumes of aqueous extracts from vegetable tubers. Typical workflow for the group's chosen system for this new project would be for many scientists to have occasional access to the system. The university selected the Rocket 4D as it was easiest to operate, had technology to prevent sample bumping and did not require users to handle and clean large heavy glass evaporation vessels.
Compact in size the Rocket 4D allows you to dry or concentrate your samples with complete confidence as it uses proprietary vacuum technology to suppress solvent bumping and foaming – problems associated with sample loss when using large-scale rotary evaporators.
The Rocket 4D comes as standard with a single, five-litre 316 stainless steel vessel for drying or concentrating product. This has detachable handles and is easily lifted into and out of the evaporator. Access to the dried or concentrated product in the vessel is very easy. Dried products can be scooped out, or where enhanced user protection is needed, re-dissolved while the vessel is still in the system. Liquid products can be easily drained via a drain port in the side of the rotor, using a dedicated pouring stand. Users wishing to dry volumes larger than five litres require the ‘Autofeed’ option, which enables the Rocket 4D to draw in product from the user’s own external supply.
The Rocket 4D controls product feed, drying and the discharge of condensed waste solvent without any external intervention. The autofeed system has an integrated rinse circuit which enables dried products to be automatically re-dissolved in a small volume of solvent at the end of the process.
Alternatively, the same circuit can be used under manual control for solvent exchange, by selecting a different solvent for re-dissolve.
Cleaning the Rocket 4D between cycles is also very straightforward. The PTFE feed tubing is easily detached for cleaning or replacement and the vessel can be readily cleaned, wiped, inspected and even put in a dishwasher. The Rocket 4D also includes powerful cold traps that maximise solvent recovery protecting the environment and improving drying of samples.
