IKA RV 10 auto pro FLEX Rotary Evaporator

Overview

The IKA RV 10 auto pro FLEX is a high-precision, motor-driven rotary evaporator engineered for reproducible solvent removal, concentration, and gentle sample recovery in research laboratories, quality control environments, and pilot-scale synthesis workflows. Based on the fundamental principle of reduced-pressure distillation—where lowering the system pressure decreases the boiling point of solvents—the RV 10 auto pro FLEX enables efficient evaporation of heat-sensitive compounds at controlled temperatures. Its integrated modular architecture supports seamless coordination between rotation, heating, vacuum regulation, and vertical lift—all programmable via intuitive touchscreen interface or external PC software. Designed and manufactured in Staufen, Germany, the instrument complies with IEC 61010-1 safety standards and meets essential requirements of the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU.

Key Features

• Motorized vertical lift with 140 mm travel range, enabling precise, repeatable positioning of the evaporation flask relative to the heating bath and condenser—critical for optimizing heat transfer and preventing bumping.
• Wide rotation speed range (5–300 rpm) with bidirectional capability and real-time speed feedback; accuracy is ±1 rpm below 100 rpm and ±1% above 100 rpm—ensuring consistent film formation and surface renewal across diverse viscosities.
• Heating bath with PTFE-coated stainless steel vessel, adjustable from ambient temperature up to 180 °C, maintaining thermal stability within ±1 K under dynamic load conditions.
• High-efficiency vertical condenser featuring 1500 cm² cooling surface area, optimized for rapid vapor condensation and minimal solvent carryover—even with low-boiling or high-volatility solvents such as diethyl ether, dichloromethane, or ethyl acetate.
• Integrated vacuum control interface compatible with external vacuum pumps and digital vacuum controllers (e.g., IKA VR 10 digital); achieves and maintains ultimate vacuum down to 1 mbar for low-temperature evaporation of thermolabile substances.
• Dual communication pathways: RS232 and USB ports support instrument parameter logging, remote operation, and integration into laboratory information management systems (LIMS); analog output (0–10 V) allows connection to external chart recorders or PLC-based monitoring networks.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The RV 10 auto pro FLEX accommodates standard ground-glass jointed glassware (ISO 29761-compliant), including 3 L evaporation flasks, 2 L receiving flasks, and vertical condensers with interchangeable coolant connections (e.g., circulating chiller or tap water). It supports common organic solvents, aqueous solutions, and moderately aggressive media—provided appropriate chemical resistance of glass and PTFE seals is verified. The unit conforms to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) documentation requirements when used with IKA Labworldsoft™ software, which provides electronic audit trails, user access control, and timestamped method storage compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 guidelines. All electrical components meet RoHS and REACH substance restrictions.

Software & Data Management

Control and data acquisition are managed through IKA Labworldsoft™ (v5.0+), a validated Windows-based application supporting method development, multi-step protocol automation, and real-time graphing of temperature, rotation speed, vacuum level, and lift position. Each run generates a secure, tamper-evident .iwd file containing raw sensor values, operator ID, date/time stamps, and environmental metadata. Export options include CSV, PDF, and XML formats for integration with ELN (Electronic Lab Notebook) platforms. Firmware updates are delivered via USB stick or network download, ensuring long-term regulatory alignment and feature scalability.

Applications

• Solvent removal following column chromatography or solid-phase extraction (SPE) in pharmaceutical QC labs.
• Concentration of natural product extracts (e.g., plant alkaloids, essential oils) without thermal degradation.
• Recovery of reaction mixtures post-Suzuki coupling or Grignard synthesis—preserving stereochemical integrity.
• Preparative-scale lyophilization feedstock preparation in biotech process development.
• Standardized residue-on-evaporation testing per USP , EP 2.2.37, and ASTM D129.

FAQ

What vacuum pump is recommended for optimal performance with the RV 10 auto pro FLEX?

A two-stage oil-sealed rotary vane pump capable of reaching ≤0.5 mbar (e.g., IKA RV 10 digital vacuum controller paired with IKA RV 3 basic pump) is recommended for full utilization of the 1 mbar ultimate vacuum specification.
Can the heating bath accommodate custom-sized flasks beyond 3 L?

No—the bath geometry and lift mechanism are calibrated for ISO-standard 3 L flasks (ISO 29761, 29/32 joint); use of larger vessels may compromise thermal uniformity and mechanical stability.
Is the analog output signal scalable for third-party PID controllers?

Yes—the 0–10 V output is linearly mapped to the current heating bath temperature setpoint and can be configured as input for external temperature regulation loops.
Does the instrument support GLP-compliant electronic signatures?

When operated with Labworldsoft™ and enabled user authentication modules, electronic signatures are supported per Annex 11 and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for regulated environments.
How often does the PTFE seal require replacement under continuous operation?

Under normal usage (≤8 h/day, non-corrosive solvents), the main shaft seal demonstrates service life exceeding 12 months; visual inspection every 200 operating hours is advised per IKA Maintenance Protocol 008-REV4.