Cleaning used rotary evaporators

[Anonymous Modernist 5009]

I'm looking at buying a used rotary evaporator, because the price for a new device is quite steep for a hobby device. Now I was wondering whether that's a bad idea, considering the fact that there's a good chance they have been used to extract highly volatile chemical substances in a lab.

Is this really as unsafe as I think? Is there a reliable way to clean the glassware of such a second hand rotavap? How do the lab guys do this, since I guess they don't want to mix their chemicals with those from previous experiments either?

thanks!

[Cheviot]

I used to work in an environmental lab and as much as I know cleaning the glassware thoroughly should be enough, I wouldn't trust a used rotovap. A good compromise may be to buy a used unit, then replace the glassware pieces that actually contact the food. Replacement glassware is always available as breakage is very common in lab environments and is much less expensive than the rotovap itself.

[Judy Wilson]

Depending on what you want to use it for, you can build your own! http://modernistcuisine.com/2011/11/vacuum-concentrating-part-2/

[adey73]

anyone done this and lived?

 

ultrasonic waterbath, bleach, anyone bright ideas?

[Kerry Beal]

I just bought new glassware.  

[adey73]

and the vacuum valve and seals?

 

how about the pump?

[Kerry Beal]

Ah yes - the valves and such were also new (it was an old evaporator.  

 

The pump was 'borrowed' from the hospital temporarily.  All new tubing to that.  

[adey73]

.........and........ you're......... alive !!!!

 

I am going to have to try this.

 

Just spoke a Buchi employee and gargling Ebola was said to be safer.

 

anything else Kerry?

[Kerry Beal]

.........and........ you're......... alive !!!!

 

 

I am going to have to try this.

 

Just spoke a Buchi employee and gargling Ebola was said to be safer.

 

anything else Kerry?

Most days I'm alive!  

 

Can't think of anything else.  I am hoping that one day I'll find someone who wants mine - I haven't really been making a lot of use of it.  I should probably start asking around instead of assuming that someone will come to me!