The laboratory ovens or drying oven is equipment used to dry and sterilize glass and metal containers in a laboratory. It is also known as a drying oven. They work between room temperature and 350 ° C. In general, these equipments are made of stainless steel, both inside and outside, this provides them with high durability. In addition, they have a microprocessor that makes sure to maintain a uniform temperature and allows it to be set digitally.
What is the specific function of the ovens ?
Drying ovens have two main functions in a laboratory: Dry and sterilize glass and metal material used in laboratory work, in examinations and tests carried out in the same.
After having been used in any job, the metal and glass implements are washed and later placed in the oven for drying and sterilization, this leaves them ready for later use. The sterilization carried out in the oven is produced by dry heat at 180ºC for about two hours. This absorbs any trace of moisture and removes any lingering biological activity on the surface of these materials.
What are the different types of ovens types?
- Natural convection ovens : Extracts the air from the environment in which the ovens is located. So it transmits heat in a uniform way throughout the equipment creating a natural air circulation. They have a double camera. The air enters through the lower part of the double chamber, heats up as it passes through the combustion chamber and is distributed evenly throughout the room.
- Forced convection ovens : In this type of ovens , air is forced inside the machine. This air is at room temperature. They are perfect for routine daily work, providing the ideal heating and drying solution for your applications. Forced or mechanical convection allows for rapid drying and heating of the sample, superior temperature uniformity, and rapid temperature recovery after the door is opened.
- Vacuum oven: They allow drying products at a very low temperature, in the absence of oxygen and with the possibility of solvent recovery. These kits are designed for gentle drying of heat sensitive samples and generally have adjustable over-temperature protection. They are used in the areas of clinical, hospital and food analysis, for drying materials that are thermosensitive, whose increase in temperature can destroy cells of bacteriological colonies, or materials that oxidize under heating.
This type of ovens can be static, with the product placed in trays on hot plates. A vacuum unit with a solvent condenser reduces the pressure inside the chamber and allows the solvent to evaporate at a very low temperature. Vacuum ovens can also be rotating. In this case, the product is loaded into a rotating drum that has a heating jacket.
Vacuum dryers are suitable for a wide variety of products in the fine chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agri-food industries: medicinal plant extracts, antibiotics, enzymes, crystalline products, colorants, plastic granules, food additives, spices and condiments, fruit juices, drying of products that require a low residual moisture content.
At Kalstein we have an excellent range of laboratory ovens , which we make available to you. HERE
