With the steadily increasing costs of solvents and the huge CO2 emissions associated with the production of new solvents, on-site solvent recycling is not only a suitable way to reduce operating costs in the lab but also a sensible step towards more sustainable processes. An example is the life cycle of acetone: the production of 1 ton of acetone causes about 2000 kg of CO2 carbon footprint. Usually, used solvents are not directly recycled but replaced by fresh solvents from specific suppliers. The used solvents have to be handled by specialized companies that transport the collected solvents over a long distance to their recycling facilities. This logistical process causes further CO2 emissions, which can be avoided by an on-site recycling process. Rotary evaporation is usually one of the most common techniques for solvent separation in the laboratory. The idea of rotary evaporation is well-known and is a proven technique in most laboratories. Smart systems that automate all liquid management in the rotary evaporation process not only make it possible to automate this proven technique, but also to turn a typical rotary evaporator into a 24/7 solvent recycling station.
In this webinar, you will learn how this principle works and for which applications it can be used. In addition, the webinar includes a case study from the University of Nottingham that reduced the need for virgin acetone by 90%, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and investment required for virgin solvents
